“Let’s go up the hill,” suggested Westy.
“By the old haunted farm house?” asked Warde.
“Nothing doing,” said the Maniac. “I’m scared of such places. If you promise to take me by the hand and shield me from all danger, I might think it over. Otherwise, I’ll go home and finish my knitting!”
“We promise,” said Westy.
Now I’ll tell you all about this haunted farm, so that you won’t be frightened. In the first place, it’s not haunted at all. That is I don’t think so, but the people that lived there did think so, ’cause they moved out and left the farm just as it was. (When I get married I’m coming up here and start farming, there’s enough tools and things.)
“Gee, you can have lots of fun here,” said Pee-wee. “I like the apple trees and the big swing. You can see way over Overlook Mountain and Black Lake when you’re eating an apple.”
“What? Do you mean to tell me they have magic apples up here? That’s some record,” said the Maniac. “I know you can see stars, when you’re hit over the head or something like it, but seeing mountains and lakes when you’re eating an apple, beats anything I’ve ever heard.”
Westy said, “Didn’t you hear Roy say we’re about to enter the land of mystery? You should listen.”
“Sure,” I said, “if you eat enough apples you can look right through the Woolworth Building.”
“Swingin’ of course, oh you fellows know what I mean——” began poor Pee-wee.