o was a little in the advance gave a
cry--a cry of joy.

"Here is the house!" she cried. "It is all dark, but we will knock."

By the lightning flashes they saw, set some distance back from the road,
a large house. By the same flashes they saw leading up to it a path,
much overgrown with weeds. And back of the house were big trees. The
rest was not very distinct, but at least shelter was offered them.

"Come on!" urged Betty, resolutely.

"Suppose there are--dogs?" faltered Amy.

"If there are they would have barked before now. But I don't believe
even a self-respecting dog would bother us on a night like this," said
Mollie. "Come on."

They advanced up the old path, that was overgrown with weeds.

"I don't believe any one lives there," ventured Grace, in a low voice.

"If they do they don't keep the place in very good condition," spoke
Cousin Jane. "It's a shame to let it get so run down."

Mollie was knocking on the door. The sound of her knuckles seemed to
echo through an empty house. The hearts of the girls were despairing
again. Once more Mollie knocked. No answer.

"No one at home," she murmured. "And yet the light!"

She gave a little cry.

"What is it?" asked Betty.

"The door--it opened of itself!"

"Nonsense! Perhaps it was not shut, and you pushed it!"

Betty flashed her light forward. It shone on the old door, that was
slowly swinging open, seemingly of its own accord. Then a bare and
deserted hall was observed.

At that moment there came a vivid lightning flash, and before the
thunder could echo Grace cried:

"We're at the haunted house of Shadow Valley!"

CHAPTER XV

QUEER MANIFESTATIONS

Curiously enough it was gentle Amy who made a remark that saved the
day--or should I say night? For it was after dark.

As the girls literally shivered, following the exclamation of
Grace--shivered as much from the chilling rain as from the terror
induced--Amy said, with such a queer intonation:

"Do you suppose that door opened itself to invite us in?"

There was a moment of silence. Then Grace giggled, Betty caught her
breath in a gasp, Mollie went into a perfect gale of laughter, and
Cousin Jane--well, she said it herself afterward--she snickered.

"Amy, that's the most sensible thing I've heard since this series of
midnight adventures began," declared Mollie.

"And since the door did open to let us in, suppose we take advantage of
it," suggested Betty, "and go in."

"What--int