“You close your mind to things you do not wish to believe,” the housekeeper reproved. “What can any of us know of the spirit world?”
Penny gazed at Mrs. Weems in alarm. She realized that the seamstress’ story had deeply impressed her.
“I’ll stake my knowledge against Mrs. Hodges’ any old day,” she declared lightly. “I met one ghost-maker—Osandra—remember him?”
“Why remind me of that man, Penny?” asked the housekeeper wearily.
“Because you once paid him good money for the privilege of attending his séances. You were convinced he was in communication with the world beyond. He proved to be an outrageous fraud.”
“I was taken in by him as were many other persons,” Mrs. Weems acknowledged. “Mrs. Hodges’ case is different. We have been friends for ten years. She would not misrepresent the facts.”
“No, Mrs. Hodges is honest. I believe that the money was sent to her. But not by a ghost!”
“Let’s not discuss it,” said Mrs. Weems with finality. “I never did enjoy an argument.”
Penny lapsed into silence and a moment later the car swung into the Parker driveway. The housekeeper hurried into the house, leaving the girl to close the garage doors.
Penny snapped the padlock shut. Unmindful of the rain, she stood for a moment, staring into the night. Nothing had gone exactly right that day, and her disagreement with Mrs. Weems, minor though it was, bothered her.