CHAPTER XXV The Christmas Party
Harry Pangborn came over to dinner and to spend the evening. It was amost delightful meal, for Moselle and Althea had done their best, whichwas very good indeed. But it was the talk, the banter and laughter thatlent spice to the food. Young folks are inimitable at that sort of thing.
"It certainly is mystifying," Harry had to admit when he was told, morein detail, what Dot had sketched to him over the telephone about the"mistletoe" experience of Sim and Arden. "Very strange. You say there wasno more sign of other footprints than your own?"
"Not a sign," declared Sim.
"Could you gather why Viney Tucker was in the old smokehouse?"
"Only that it was a queer whim," said Arden, "and she is queer."
"Yes, such a character as hers would be whimmy." He lighted a cigarette.Dinner was almost over.
"Is this mistletoe?" asked Dot, bringing out a branch from those herchums had gathered. "You might know, being a bird man."
"I should think one would need to be a ladies' man to judge mistletoe,"said Mr. Pangborn, with a laugh and a glance at each of the girls inturn. Terry was downstairs for the first time since her accident.
"Not bad! Not half bad!" laughed Arden. "But do you confirm Viney'sdenial? Is it or is it not--mistletoe?"
"No, it isn't mistletoe," he said after an examination. "But I suppose itwill answer the same purpose. Where are you going to hang it? I shouldlike to know in advance."
"_Wouldn't_ you like to know?" mocked Dorothy.
"I must take a piece with me and put it in Granny Howe's hair the nightof the Christmas party," said Harry, handing back to Dot the plant shehad given him. "I shall claim the privilege on the eve of the holiday."
"Like this?" Dot challenged with mischief in her eyes as she thrust theclump of white berries into her own blonde hair and then ran laughingfrom the room.
It was a merry little group. Mr. Pangborn said everything was inreadiness to announce to Granny, with the sanction of the head of theState Park Commission, that at least she would have a new chance to proveher claim.
"And about the party," suggested Arden. "Just what are we going to do atit?"
"We shall need some refreshments, I suppose," said Sim. "I can getMoselle to arrange about that. We can pack them into my car and take themto the Hall. Only we'll be a bit crowded in the roadster."
"I'll bring my car," Harry said. "But, as there are quite a few things todo, wouldn't it be wise to take Dick and Betty into our confidence?"
"And let them help," spoke Terry.
"Yes. Dick and I can get in the wood and put the chairs and otherfurniture in place. I saw a table there for the food," said Harry.
"Oh, it's going to be just--_grand_!" murmured Sim dramatically.
"But tell Betty and Dick not to let Granny know about it," warned Arden."That would spoil the surprise."
"I'll caution them," Harry promised. "I'll go see Dick at the liverystable in the morning and also stop at the library and tell Betty. I'vebeen in there for books before."
"What about Viney?" asked Sim. "Should she be told?"
"I'll leave that to Dick and Betty," said Harry. "They can use their bestjudgment. I only hope she doesn't break up the little affair. She's veryqueer, you say?"
"More than queer--vindictive," declared Arden.
"But when she hears the big state news, things are going to ease up alittle, I think," said Sim.
They talked over the plan, made some changes, and when Harry left thatevening all details were practically settled.
He telephoned the next day, about noon, to say that he had seen Betty andDick and that they were delighted with the matter. They both said, Harryreported, that Viney must be told or she might break out into a suddentantrum at the last moment when she learned about it.
"She probably won't come to the party," Harry said. Betty had informedhim, but that would be all right, he added. The two grandchildren wouldescort Mrs. Howe to the old mansion the evening of the affair, at apredetermined hour, on pretense that it would probably be the lastChristmas she would ever see with the old house standing.
It was the day before Christmas. Dick and Harry, with the help of astable boy, had brought much dry wood into the old Hall. The girls had,each one, bought some little token for Granny and something for Viney,"in case," Arden said, "she shows up at the last moment and starts afuss. We'll have to treat her like a child."
Betty and Dick entered into the spirit of the affair and could not sayenough in praise of the girls who had thought of it.
"Granny is going to be very happy about it all," said Betty gratefully.
"I hope so," said Arden. "By the way, Betty, did you ever get those oldbooks you were looking for in the cellar?"
"I never did. But I'm going in when the house is razed. It will be lightdown there then. There may be some valuable volumes, the librarian says."
In the days that passed between the one before Christmas and the episodeof the "mistletoe," nothing had happened at Sycamore Hall, as far asArden and her chums could learn. There were no more strangemanifestations. But then no workmen were engaged in tearing the placeapart.
Dick and Betty decided not to say anything to Viney Tucker until theafternoon of the party. Otherwise she might have too long a time to broodover it and get some obstreperous notions busy in her old bonnet.
All the preparations were finished. Moselle had made up a delightfulpicnic lunch for an evening supper, with thermos bottles of coffee andchocolate. The things were taken to the Hall by Harry in his car, and ahearth fire was lighted early in the afternoon to drive the chill off thebig old room.
Evening came, and after an early meal the girls and Harry went, in twocarloads, to the old Hall. Candles had been brought for illumination, andthere was quite a collection of flashlights for emergencies.
Then Arden, her chums, and Harry trooped into the place. More wood waspiled on the fire. The hour approached when Dick and Betty were to bringin Granny Howe.
Footsteps were heard on the porch--voices--laughter.
"What in the world are you tykes up to?" Granny could be heard asking ofBetty and Dick. Her voice was jovial.
They brought in the dear old lady--into the candlelighted room, where theroaring fire flickered on branches of holly that the girls, with a lastmoment thought, had hung around the walls.
"Oh--what--what is all this?" faltered Granny as she saw the littlethrong of happy, smiling faces. "What does it mean?"
"Merry Christmas, Granny! Merry Christmas!" cried the girls.
And Granny, trembling a little, took the old squat rocker before thehearth fire while the merry throng cheered around her.
This was indeed a Christmas party!