“You could invite me,” Louise said eagerly. “I’ll telephone mother to come over and stay with Mrs. Weems while we’re gone!”
The arrangement proved satisfactory to everyone. Mrs. Sidell came immediately to the house, and very shortly thereafter the girls sped away in Joe’s taxicab.
The night was a pleasant one, mildly cold, but with a bright moon.
“Park before you get to the estate,” Penny directed the driver. “We don’t want to be seen. It might defeat our purpose.”
Joe drew up in a clump of trees some distance from the Harrison grounds. He then walked with the girls to the spiked fence. There was no sign of activity.
Two hours elapsed. During that time nothing unusual occurred. No lights were visible inside the house. Even Penny began to lose heart.
“This is getting pretty boring,” she sighed. “I don’t believe the ghost is going to show up tonight.”
“We may have been observed,” suggested Louise. “One can see very plainly tonight.”
After another half hour had elapsed Penny was willing to return to the cab. The three started away from the fence. Just then they heard a door slam inside the house. Instantly they froze against the screen of bushes, waiting.
“There’s the ghost!” whispered Louise.