“While they told stories,” went on Miss Carver, “the blackness of the night increased, the stars faded and over all there was a canopy of such darkness as had never been seen before. The wind moaned dismally like a lost soul and the waters of the lake, white-capped by the breeze, chattered against the rocky beach. The last ghost story was being told by one of the boys. He told how people disappeared as if by magic, leaving no trace behind them, uttering no sound. Some of the other stories had been surprising, but this one gave the class the creeps and everyone turned to see if the others were there.”
Involuntarily Helen reached out to clasp Margaret’s hand and when she failed to find it, turned to the spot where Margaret had been sitting beside her a few minutes before.
Margaret had disappeared!
CHAPTER IX
Rescue on Lake Dubar
Helen stared hard at the place where her friend should have been. Had the magic of Miss Carver’s story been so strong that she was imagining things? She rubbed her eyes and looked again. There was no mistake. Margaret had disappeared!
Helen’s cry caught the attention of the other members of the class and Miss Carver stopped her story.
“What’s the matter, Helen?” the teacher asked.
“Look,” cried Helen dazedly, pointing to the spot where Margaret had been sitting, “Margaret’s gone!”
Miss Carver’s eyes widened and she gave a little shudder. Then she smiled to reassure Helen and the other members of the class.
“Probably Margaret slipped away and is hiding just to add a thrill to my ghost story. I’ll call her.”