CHAPTER XVI A Surprise
Thinking over what had taken place that afternoon, and reviewing theirown parts in the strange mystery, kept Sim and Arden rather silent on thedrive back from Jim Danton's home. Then, as they were almost back at theHall, where Terry and Dot were waiting, Sim remarked seriously:
"I don't believe it's anyone playing jokes."
"What do you mean--jokes?" asked Arden, her attention, which had wanderedfar afield, snapping back to the girl beside her in the roadster.
"You said," Sim replied, "that possibly somebody was playing a joke tocause these manifestations. It's a pretty serious joke, if you ask me."
"I agree with you," Arden answered. "But there are persons with a verystrange sense of humor."
"I wish some of them had to fall down the ash-chute as Jim did!" Simexclaimed snappishly. "It would jar some of the humor out of them."
"I don't really believe I meant that, about it being a joke," went onArden. "But I'm determined to find out what's at the bottom of it all. Itmust be real and it must have humans in it."
"And I'm with you!" declared Sim. "But I have a new thought, Arden!"
"What, Mistress Sim?" asked Arden. "I declare I'm reverting to Colonialtalk, thinking so much about this ancient place," and she laughed. "Butlet me have your thought."
"Could it be labor troubles?" asked Sim. "I mean, could some othercontractor, who resented Mr. Callahan having the job of tearing down thisold mansion, be trying to scare his men off so Mr. Callahan would give upthe contract? Isn't that possible?"
"Yes, possible."
"You know," went on Sim, "while there may not be very much money for acontractor in just pulling down an old mansion, this one is ofRevolutionary importance, and there may be what the boys would call'pickings,' that would sell for a good sum."
"You mean like those hand-forged hooks in the closet where Jimdisappeared from?"
"Yes. So it may be that some rival contractor is trying to force Mr.Callahan to give up by frightening his men away."
"It's an idea," admitted Arden, after thinking it over. "But why haven'tsome of these alleged jokers been caught?"
"Because they have been working on the fears of ignorant men."
"You can't exactly call Jim and his workers ignorant," Arden objected.
"No. But this is the first time anything happened to them. And it was allso mixed up, no proper search was made at the moment of the scare. If ithad been, something might have been found out."
"Well, I hope _we_ can find out something," Arden suggested. "It's sad tothink of a poor man hurt on the first work he gets after months ofidleness. And that little family was in a sad state."
"Yes. We must make sure that Mr. Callahan does something forthem--workmen's compensation relief or something like that."
Arden nodded. She was very thoughtful, and Sim, noticing that her chum'sthoughts had evidently taken a new turn, asked:
"Have you any other theory as to how this happened to Jim?"
"I was just wondering if anyone could have slipped into that closet,stolen up behind Jim, hit him on the head, and then put his unconsciousbody down the ash-chute?"
"I don't see how they could, with another man in the same room."
"No, I suppose not. Well, it's baffling, certainly."
As they made a turn in the road which would put them on the main highwayleading back to the Hall and Jockey Hollow, they saw a horseman leading ariderless mount coming out of the woods.
"It's Dick Howe!" exclaimed Arden.
"Yes," Sim agreed.
The young groom saw them at the same moment and held back his horsesuntil they could ride past, which they did, coming to a stop a little waybeyond him.
"Hello, Dick!" Arden greeted.
"Afternoon, ladies--or I might almost say evening," Dick answered. Theslanting rays of the fast-setting sun shone on his face, and the girlswere surprised to see that it was bleeding. He noticed their quickattention drawn to him and, putting up a hand to wipe away some tricklingblood, remarked. "Yes, my horse got a bit skittish and ran me under a lowbranch. I hope it doesn't leave a scar," and he laughed lightly.
"Is it deep?" asked Sim anxiously.
"Not at all--just a scratch. I've been taking an old gentleman out for acanter--had to deliver a horse to him and lead it back--lead it bothways, in fact. And Highboy," he patted his own mount, "is alwaystroublesome with a led critter near him. He tried to bolt with me morethan once. You girls going riding again soon?"
"I hope so," Sim said. "But you know, with Christmas just around thecorner, we won't have much time until after that and then we'll have togo back to school."
"That's so," Dick agreed. "Well, turn all the business my way that youcan, or, rather, Ellery's way. We need it! And if I don't see you again,why, Merry Christmas!"
"The same to you," they answered.
Arden waved to Dick as Sim stepped on the accelerator, and the car shotaway, leaving the young groom and his two horses bathed in the red sunsetlight, the crimson rays matching the blood on his cheek.
"Rather queer," remarked Sim as they made the last turn before reachingthe road that ran past the Hall.
"What?" asked Arden.
"Dick getting hurt that way. I mean he's such a good rider, you wouldthink he might have ducked the branch that hit him."
"You can't tell what a horse will do," declared Arden. "What, just, didyou mean?"
"Well," Sim went on, slowing down to avoid some ruts, "I was thinking itwould be queer if Dick had been around the old Hall when Jim was hurt andmaybe he got hurt the same way--or something like it."
"But Dick wasn't there. He was off with an old gentleman going for aride."
"Yes, I suppose so. Well, it was only a notion. But there are enoughqueer things happening--this would only be one of them. Betty was thereat the house, you know."
"But I'm sure Dick wasn't. Look, there are Terry and Dot waiting for us."
They saw the two girls walking up and down in front of the Hall. Theafternoon was fast passing. They had spent more time than they realized.
"So you finished your visit with Granny?" asked Sim.
"Yes, we had tea again. Betty is very nice. So is Granny. But thecousin--she's queer," related Terry.
"Oh, so you met Viney Tucker?" asked Arden.
"She poked herself in at us," said Dot. "But what happened to you?"
Arden and Sim told, and said something about the strange closet.
"Let's go in now and have a look at it while none of the workmen isaround," suggested Arden enthusiastically.
"No, it's too dark!" objected Terry. "I don't believe in ghosts any morethan you do, but going in that queer old house when it's as dark as it'sgoing to be soon, doesn't appeal to me."
"Nor me!" said Dot.
She and Terry climbed into the rumble seat, and they were all soon backat Sim's house. The way seemed short, for they had plenty to talk about.
It was quite dark when they arrived. Moselle opened the door for them andexclaimed:
"I sure am glad you-all have come back!" There was a tone of relievedanxiety in her voice.
"Why?" drawled Sim. "Have you been seeing ghosts, too, Moselle?"
"No. But a gentleman named Harry Pangborn has been telephonin' an'telephonin' all the afternoon, wantin' to know when you-all would beback. He seemed quite set up about it. I couldn't give him anysatisfaction. But he----"
The telephone jingled smartly.
"That must be him again!" exclaimed Moselle scurrying in.
"Harry Pangborn!" cried Terry.
"What a delightful surprise!" voiced Sim.
"I wonder what he wants?" murmured Arden.