CHAPTER XIII
THE MYSTERY OF THE ATTIC
THE sound of running feet was heard on the floor below following Ruth's cry for help. Olive, Mollie and Grace had heard it from the foot of the stairs on the ground floor. Mr. and Mrs. Presby, sitting in the dining room, had also heard the cry and started for the stairs. Tom, who was down in the cellar, heard the girls running, and started up the stairs three steps at a time, instinctively realizing that something was wrong. His first thought was that the girls in the garret had set the house on fire.
The three girls fairly tore up the stairs to the attic in response to Ruth's cry, getting in each other's way on the narrow stairs as they ran. Tom was close at their heels, while his father and mother followed more slowly.
At first they could distinguish nothing but Ruth's figure dimly outlined in a haze of dust that filled the air.
"Fire!" cried Grace.
"No!" roared Tom. "It's dust. Somebody's been kicking up a fine smudge here. What's the matter? Have you folks gone crazy?"
"Ruth! Ruth! What is it?" cried Olive.
"It's Bab," moaned Ruth.
"Bab?" cried the girls.