And with eight argus-eyed inquirers watching him, Mr. Bruce cant put anything over, opined Landon, and the others agreed.
CHAPTER III
Black Aspens
Though mid-July, it was a chilly dusk through which the two motor cars ascended the last stretch of mountain road toward the old Montgomery mansion. The sun set early behind the Green Mountains and the house, half-way up an eastern slope, appeared faintly through the shadows.
To the right, tall forest trees waved their topmost branches with an eerie, soughing sound, or stood, menacingly silent, in black, sullen majesty. Beneath them a tangled underbrush gave forth faint, rustling hints of some wild life or suddenly ceased to a grim stillness.
Then the road lay through a thick grove of aspens, close, black and shivering as they stood, sentinel like and fearsome, only dimly outlined against the dark, clouded sky. Once in the grove, the shadows were dense, and the quivering sounds seemed intensified to a muttered protest against intrusion. A strange bird gave forth a few raucous notes, and then the dread silence returned.
A quick, damp chill foreboded still water and the road followed the margin of a small lake or pond, sinister in its inky depths, which mirrored the still blacker aspen trees.
Suddenly, in a small clearing, they came upon the house. In the uncertain light it seemed enormous, shapeless and beyond all words repelling. It seemed to have a personality, defiant and forbidding, that warned of mystery and disaster. Aspen trees, tall and gaunt, grew so close that their whispering leaves brushed the windows, and crowded in protecting, huddled clumps to ward off trespassers.
No lights showed through the deep caverns of the windows, but one faint gleam flickered above the entrance door.
Whew! cried Landon, jumping from his seat with a thud on the stone terrace, I wont go through that woods again! Ill go home in an aeroplane, and Im ready to go now!
So am I, said Milly, in a quivering, tearful voice. Oh, Wynne, why did we ever come?
Now, now, cheered Braye, keep your heads, its all right. Only these confounded shadows make it impossible to know just where were at. Heres the house, and by jinks, its built of marble!
Of course, said the Professor, who was curiously feeling of the old ivy-grown stone, this is the marble country, you know. Vermont marble was plenty enough when this house was put up.
Lets get in, begged Vernie. It isnt as much fun as I thought it would be.
They went, in a close group, up a short flight of broad marble steps and reached a wide portico, in the centre of which was a spacious vestibule indented into the building, and which stood within the main wall. Though the walls of the house were of marble, those of this vestibule were of panelled mahogany, and the entrance doorway was flanked on either side by large bronze columns, which stood half within and half without the mahogany wall.
Some house! exclaimed Tracy, in admiration of the beautiful details, which though worn and blackened by time, were of antique grandeur. These bronze doors must have come from Italy. Theyre marvellous. Im glad I came.
Oh, do get in, Wynne, wailed Milly. You can examine the house to-morrow. I wish we hadnt come!
Landon was about to make search for knocker or bell, when one of the big bronze doors swung open, and a man peered out.
You folks here? he said, a bit unnecessarily. Bring another lamp, Hester.
Yes, were here, Landon assured him, and we want to get in out of the wet!
Rainin? and the man stepped out of the door to look, blocking all ingress.
No! thats a figure of speech! Landons nerves were on edge. Open that door, the other one, let us in!
Go on in, whos henderin you? and the indifferent host stepped out of the way.
Landon went in first and Braye followed, as the others crowded after. At first they could see only a gloomy cavernous hall, its darkness accentuated by one small lamp on a table.
Thought I wouldnt light up till you got here, and the man who had admitted them came in and closed the door. Im Stebbins, and heres the keys. This is the house youve took, and Hester here will look after you. Ill be goin.
No, you wont! and Landon turned on him. Why, man, we know nothing of this place. You stay till I dismiss you. I want a whole lot of information, but not till after we get lights and make the ladies comfortable.
Comfortable! At Black Aspens! Not likely. The mocking laugh that accompanied these words struck terror to most of his hearers. Nobody told me that you folks came up here to be comfortable.
Shut up! Landons temper was near the breaking point. Wheres that woman with the lamps? Wheres the man I engaged to look after things?
Hester, shes here. Shell be in in a minute. Thorpe, thats her husband, hes goin to be a sort of butteler for you, he cant come till to-morrow. But Hester, shes got supper ready, or will be, soons you can wash up and all.
Hester came in then, a gaunt, hard-featured New England woman, who looked utterly devoid of any emotion and most intelligence.
Stebbins, on the other hand, was apparently of keen perceptions and average intellect. His small blue eyes roved from one face to another, and though he looked sullen and disagreeable of disposition, he gave the effect of one ready to do his duty.
All right, he said, as if without interest, Ill set in the kitchen and wait. Hester here, shell take the ladies to their rooms, and then after you get your supper, Ill tell you all you ask me. But I rented this place to you, I didnt agree to be a signboard and Farmers Almanac.
All right, old chap, and Landon smiled faintly, but dont you get away till I see you. Now, girls, want to select your rooms?
Y-Yes, began Eve, bravely, and then a glance up the dark staircase made her shudder.
What we want is light, and plenty of it, broke in Braye. Here you, Hester, Ill relieve you of that lamp youre holding, and you hop it, and get more, six more, twelve more hear me?
We havent that many in the house. Dull-eyed the woman looked at him with that sublime stolidity only achieved by born New Englanders.
Oh, you havent! Well, bring all you have and to-morrow you manage to raise a lot more. How many have you, all told?
Four, I think.
Four! For a party of nine! Well, have you candles?
Half a dozen.
And three candlesticks, I suppose! Bring them in, and if youre shy of candlesticks, bring old bottles, or anything.
Good for you, Braye, didnt know you had so much generalship, and Gifford Bruce clapped his nephew on the shoulder. Im glad I dont believe in ghosts, for every last one of you people are shaking in your shoes this minute! Whats the matter with you? Nothing has happened.
It was that awful ride through the woods, said Vernie, cuddling into her uncles arm. I l-like it, I like it all, but, the local colour is so so dark!
Thats it, Kiddie, said Braye, the local colour is about the murkiest I ever struck. But here are our lights, hooray!
Hester brought two more small hand lamps, and after another trip to the kitchen brought six candles and six battered but usable candlesticks.
A candle was given to each of the four women, and Norma politely selected the oldest and most broken holder.