Laura and Vi seemed to share her uneasiness, for they stopped at the foot of the stairs and held back a little.
“Who goes up first to meet the skeleton?” asked Laura, with an attempt at a laugh that sounded strained even to herself.
“You do,” said Vi, adding maliciously: “You were the one who said he wouldn’t hurt us.”
Seeing that Laura was about to argue the point, Billie pushed impatiently past them both and ran defiantly up the stairs. Laura, thus challenged, took the stairs two at a time after her and Vi followed reluctantly.
“Look! There’s the handkerchief,” said Billie, kicking the tiny square of blood-stained linen over toward Laura, who jumped nervously out of the way.
“Well, you needn’t wish it on me,” she said resentfully, picking up the handkerchief by the very tip of a corner and presenting it to Billie with a low bow. “Here, take back your gold——”
“What are you two whispering about?” demanded Vi, petulantly, for by this time she was beginning to wish she had not come.
At her question Laura whirled suddenly about and poked the blood-stained handkerchief directly beneath Vi’s startled nose.
“There,” she said. “Want it?”
Vi gave one look, screamed, and fled down the stairs. She had gone only halfway, however, when Laura overtook her and dragged her back.