The Hidden Staircase - Carolyn Keene [13]
“So that’s why he didn’t leave any footprints under the window,” Helen said. “But he certainly got away from here fast.” She suddenly laughed. “He must be on some ghosts’ track team.”
Her humor, Nancy was glad to see, relieved the tense situation. She had noticed Miss Flora leaning wearily on her daughter’s arm.
“You’d better lie down and rest, Mother,” Mrs. Hayes advised.
“I guess I will,” Aunt Flora agreed.
It was suggested that the elderly woman use Aunt Rosemary’s room, while the others continued the experiment with the chandelier.
Helen and Aunt Rosemary went into the parlor and waited as Nancy ascended the front stairway and went to Miss Flora’s bedroom. Once more she began to rock from side to side. Downstairs, Aunt Rosemary and her niece were gazing intently at the ceiling.
“Look!” Helen exclaimed, pointing to the crystal chandelier. “It’s moving!” In a moment it swung to the left, then back to the right.
“Nancy has proved that the ghost was up in my mother’s room!” Aunt Rosemary said excitedly.
After a few minutes the rocking motion of the chandelier slackened and finally stopped. Nancy came hurrying down the steps.
“Did it work?” she called.
“Yes, it did,” Aunt Rosemary replied. “Oh, Nancy, we must have two ghosts!”
“Why do you say that?” Helen asked.
“One rocking the chandelier, the other holding the horrible face up to the window. No one could have gone from Miss Flora’s room to the front porch in such a short time. Oh, this complicates everything!”
“It certainly does,” Nancy agreed. “The question is, are the two ghosts in cahoots? Or, it’s just possible, there is only one. He could have disappeared from Miss Flora’s room without our seeing him and somehow hurried to the first floor and let himself out the front door while we were upstairs. I’m convinced there is at least one secret entrance into this house, and maybe more. I think our next step should be to try to find it—or them.”
“We’d better wash the luncheon dishes first,” Aunt Rosemary suggested.
As she and the girls worked, they discussed the mystery, and Mrs. Hayes revealed that she had talked to her mother about leaving the house, whether or not she sold it.
“I thought we might at least go away for a little vacation, but Mother refuses to leave. She says she intends to remain right here until this ghost business is settled.”
Helen smiled. “Nancy, my great-grandmother is a wonderful woman. She has taught me a lot about courage and perseverance. I hope if I ever reach her age, I’ll have half as much.”
“Yes, she’s an example to all of us,” Aunt Rosemary concurred.
Nancy nodded. “I agree. I haven’t known your mother long, Aunt Rosemary, but I think she is one of the dearest persons I’ve ever met.”
“If Miss Flora won’t leave,” said Helen, “I guess that means we all stay.”
“That’s settled,” said Nancy with a smile.
After the dishes were put away, the girls were ready to begin their search for a secret entrance into the mansion.
“Let’s start with Miss Flora’s room,” Helen suggested.
“That’s a logical place,” Nancy replied, and took the lead up the stairway.
Every inch of the wall, which was paneled in maple halfway to the ceiling, was tapped. No hollow sound came from any section of it to indicate an open space behind. The bureau, dressing table, and bed were pulled away from the walls and Nancy carefully inspected every inch of the paneling for cracks or wide seams to indicate a concealed door.
“Nothing yet,” she announced, and then decided to inspect the sides of the fireplace.
The paneled sides and brick front revealed nothing. Next, Nancy looked at the sides and rear of the stone interior. She could see nothing unusual, and the blackened stones did not look as if they had ever been disturbed.
She closed the damper which Helen had left open, and then suggested that the searchers transfer to another room on the second floor. But no trace of any