Well, Ive known him longer than you have, Flapper, and Im not so surprised at his wanting a sporting proposition. But, I say, Milly, if were going to take Tracy, you people ought to see him and give him the once over first. Maybe you wont like him at all.
Oh, your friends are sure to be our friends, Rudolph, said Landon, but telephone him to run up here, cant you? Its only fair to let him in on the planning.
Tracy came, and he made good at once. His ministerial air was softened by a charming smile and a certain chivalry of address that pleased the women and satisfied the men.
What about servants? he asked, after the main details had been explained to him.
Thats what Im thinking about, said Milly. I dont want to take our servants, theyd be scared to death in such a place, and, too, we cant go ghost hunting under Charles nose! Hed sniff at us!
Right you are! agreed Landon. Charles is one estimable and valuable butler, but hes no sort to take on the picnic were out for.
Dont lets take any servants, suggested Eve, but get some up there. Natives, you know.
That would be better, said Mr. Bruce. Then, theyll be used to the place, and can tell us of the legends and traditions, you see.
Youre poking fun, said Eve, reproachfully, but its true, all the same. Do we go in motors?
I think so, said Landon. Two big cars would take us all, and we can leave our luggage to be sent up if we stay.
Of course well stay, asserted Milly. I love that old house already, and if theres no ghost at all, Ill be just as well pleased, and Ill stay the month out, with whoever wants to stay with me.
Ill stand by you, said Norma, and Ill own up that I dont really expect any spectral manifestations up there, anyway.
It matters little what you expect, and Professor Hardwick looked at her thoughtfully. Were going investigating, not expecting.
Dont you expect anything, Prof? asked Vernie, gaily.
What do you mean by expect, child? Do you mean wish or think?
Gracious, goodness, Professor! I never know what I mean by the words I use, and I never care!
Professor Hardwicks hobby was the use of words, and rarely did he fail to question it, if a word was misused or uncertainly used in his presence. But he smiled benignly on the pretty child, and didnt bother her further.
Finally, the men drew together to make up the budget of necessary expenses and the women talked clothes.
Smocks all round, said Norma, who loved the unconventional in dress.
Not for me! said Eve, who didnt.
Milly giggled. Let every one wear just what she chooses, she settled it. Im at my best in white linen in the summer time, but what about laundry? Well, I shall leave two sets of things packed, and then send for whichever I want.
Norma, uninterested in clothes, edged over toward the men. Though a friend of the Landons and acquainted with Professor Hardwick, she had never met Braye or Tracy before.
Both succumbed to her sure-fire smile, but Tracy showed it and Braye didnt.
Sit here, Miss Cameron, and Tracy eagerly made a place for her at his side; we need a lady assistant. How much do you think it ought to cost to provision nine people and two or three natives for a month?
It isnt a question of what it ought to cost, returned Norma, but what it will cost. But in any case it will be less than most of us would spend if we went to the average summer hotel. So why not just put down some round numbers, divide em by nine and let it go at that?
Fine! approved Landon. No food dictator could beat that scheme! I wonder if ghost-hunters are as hungry as other hunters, or if well be so scared well lose our appetites.
I have a profound belief in ghosts, Norma asserted, but I shall only indulge in it between meals. Count me in for all the good things going, three times a day.
What do you mean by profound? asked the Professor; deep-seated or widely informed?
Both, answered Norma, flashing her pretty smile at the serious old man. Profundity of all kinds is my happy hunting-ground, and on this trip I expect to get all the profundity I want.
And Im the girl to put the fun in profundity, cried Vernie, coming over to them. My mission is to keep you serious people joyed up. Mr. Tracy, your profession wont interfere with your having a jolly time, will it? No, I see it wont, by that twinkly little smile.
You may count on me, said the clergyman a bit stiffly, but with a cordial glance at the girl.
And I can wind Professor Hardwick round my finger, Vernie went on, for a companion on a gay lark, I dont know any one better than a dry-as-dust old college professor!
The object of this encomium received it with a benignant smile, but Gifford Bruce reproved his saucy niece.
Ill leave you at home, miss, if you talk impertinences, he declared.
Not much you wont, my bestest, belovedest Uncle! Why, Im the leading lady of this troupe. And I expect the spectre will appear to me first of all. Thats my motto: Spect the Spectre! Hows that? Then the rest of you can inspect the spectre!
Vernie! dont be so excruciatingly funny, begged Braye, while Milly Landon giggled at the pretty child, whose charm and sweetness took all rudeness from her foolery.
Perhaps we ought to call in an inspector to inspect the spectre, contributed Landon.
There, there, Wynne, said Braye, well take such stuff from an ignorant little girl but not from a grown-up man.
Ignorant, huh! scorned Vernie. Ill bet you couldnt have passed my examination in psychology!
Perhaps not, admitted Braye, but after this trip of ours, well all be honour men.
I want it thoroughly understood, said Mr. Bruce, that I range myself on the side of the sceptics. I dont want to sail under false colours and I wish to state positively that there are no ghosts or phantasms or any such things. Moreover, I announce my intention of fooling you gullible ones, if I can.
Oh, that isnt fair! exclaimed Landon. I dont believe in the things either, but I want an honest test. Why, you take away the whole point of the experiment if youre going to put up a trick on us!
No, no, Bruce, said the Professor, that wont do. Come, now, give me your word therell be no hocus-pocus or I refuse to go at all.
If its any sort of a real test, Hardwick, it oughtnt to be possible to fool you.
Thats true, said Eve; and Im not afraid of any tricks. If they are tricks, Ill know it
I too, said Norma. Im sensitive to all psychical manifestations and if I cant tell a real phantasm from Mr. Bruces tricks, I deserve to be fooled.
I think its a good thing that Mr. Bruce warned us, observed John Tracy. It puts us on our guard. But I think the rest of us ought to agree not to do anything of that sort. We can expect and discount Mr. Bruces little game, but if others are going to do the same, it seems to me the game isnt worth playing.
Right you are! declared Landon, and forthwith everybody present except Gifford Bruce solemnly pledged his or her word to do nothing tricky or fraudulent, and to preserve an open-minded, honest attitude toward any developments they might experience.