CHAPTER X The Missing Man
Sim, Terry, and Dot were gathered in the big living room quietly talkingover their visit with Granny Howe, when Arden burst in on them in greatexcitement and blurted out her newest and latest story.
The "crime sheet," as they had come to call the history of the JockeyHollow ghost story, was hurriedly taken from the locked drawer of theirdesk, and Arden wrote in the three new suspicious characters: TitusEllery, Pop Warner, and the mysterious dark man mentioned as Nick.
"We'll have to go over to the Hall the first thing in the morning: theybegin work early," Arden decided as she finished entering her report."Something is going to happen, I'm sure, and we don't want to miss it.Those men at the drugstore seemed ready to pop."
"Suppose that Callahan person just tells us to go away--what then?"questioned Sim.
"Granny told us we could go through the house, and if he says anythingcontrary we'll tell him Mrs. Howe gave us permission. I guess he won'tput up any objections then," Terry said decidedly.
So the next morning the girls tumbled out of their warm beds and dressedquickly in riding clothes, that sort of outfit being most practical forthe day ahead. The dead white snow covered everything, rounding out sharpstones and smoothing corners like a layer of lovely new downy cotton.Apparently it had continued snowing for some time during the night, butnow the sun was shining with a dazzling brightness and a deep blue skypromised fair weather for the day.
The girls ate a big breakfast, which pleased Moselle. She was alsopleased to make sure that the girls had suddenly become too busy tobother with the house, so the precious task was all her own.
Sim got the little car out and waited impatiently while Terry went backfor a woolly scarf, but she nearly exploded when Arden, as soon as Terryreturned, discovered she had forgotten her gloves and had to go back forthem. Eventually they got going, only to stop when Sim noticed thegasoline gage showed nearly "empty." She decided she would have to driveto town for gas.
"Oh, Sim!" exclaimed Dot impatiently, "we've got enough to go out to theHall and back. It will only take more time to go to a station."
"Yes, Sim, we won't be driving any place else. Don't go now," Terrybegged.
But Sim was firm, and they headed toward town and stopped at a fillingstation, the other girls glaring at their little blonde chauffeur whilethe tank was being filled.
"I believe in being prepared," Sim lectured, paying the service man. "Howdo you know where we'll be before night?"
The words were prophetic, though Sim didn't realize it, for they weredestined to have a queer experience that very day.
When they reached the road that led down to Sycamore Hall, the Hollow nowbeing covered with snow, they saw tire tracks stretching before them. Theworkmen were there, of course. And they were late!
Parked in the spot they thought of as their own special place was an opentruck with the name "Callahan--Contractor" painted on the back. Knowingwhat that meant, they looked at each other with questioning dismay.Callahan himself must be there and would not be likely to leave at once.Even as they wondered, he came marching out of the Hall, a smile on hisbroad ruddy face, and nonchalantly came over to their car.
Giving a tug at the brim of his shapeless soft hat he said jovially:"Well, we're back on the job again, ya' see. I've got a fine bunch of menthere now. Not ordinary laborers. These men don't believe in ghosts," andtaking a big black cigar from a pocket he bit off the end and searched inhis pockets for a match.
Sim reached over Terry's knees, took the detachable cigarette lighterfrom the dash board, and smilingly handed it to the man. They watched tosee what that might do.
The girls could hear the men stamping the snow off their feet in theempty house, now and then a loud crash as an iron bar or tool wascarelessly dropped. The voices of the men, in good-natured badinage,floated out on the brisk air; then came shouts of laughter. Peal on peal,deep rumbling laughter, and the lighter sounds mingling together. Whatcould this mean?
Mr. Callahan turned a pleased face to Sim as he handed back the lighter."There! These men didn't run. I guess they're onto the trick." He startedtoward the house, then stopped and said: "If you girls want to see theghost you may as well. Come in with me, I'll show you what's been scaringmy men." There was a bragging tone in his hearty voice, and a confidenttread in his heavy stride.
The girls needed no urging, quickly getting out of the car and followingthe triumphant lead of the contractor through the light snow. Onceinside, he went straight to the top of the house, walking with aprecision that showed his determination. Now he would "tell the world,"his attitude seemed to declare.
Reaching the third floor they found the men still merry. They were in aroom similar to that where the suspected ghostly bed was, on the floorbelow. As the boss, with the girls, came in, it was clear the men weretrying to look businesslike.
"What's the joke?" asked Callahan bruskly. "What's all the laughingabout?"
A young man wearing a windbreaker jacket and awkwardly holding a crowbarspoke first.
"We heard groans coming from the chimney, and Pete opened the chute inthe fireplace and threw down a brick. I guess we hit the ghost, the noisestopped so quick," chuckled the workman.
"Ghost, my eye!" exclaimed another man. "Probably it was a cat orsomething caught in there. Well, you finished him anyway, Pete," and theywere ready to laugh again.
Arden and the girls drew closer together. "There is that Nick," whisperedArden to Dot, indicating a man in the group who alone showed noamusement. He was covertly glancing at his companions, and suddenly heleft the room.
In an instant he was back, bringing with him another man. Both wereseriously excited.
"Any of you guys seen Jim? He was working with me across the hall, but heain't here now," declared the new man.
"He didn't come here," answered the man who had spoken before. "What'sthe matter? You look worried."
Callahan stood facing the newcomer, dismay slowly blotting out thepleased expression on his face. Was this more trouble? Was ever a man sofollowed by bad luck? What was going on in this old house, anyway?
"What's your trouble?" Callahan was once more the boss contractor.
"I can't find Jim. He was with me, and we were sizin' up the room,figurin' on how she would tear apart. I was at one end and Jim atanother, near a closet. I saw him go in. Then I heard a funny noise, sortof groan, and when I turned around--Jim wasn't there!"