, "but it never does to let Belle know how
we feel. She is so nervous!"

"I'm glad the boys are here," finished Cora.

"Oh, I'm always glad when they are here," confessed Bess, stepping up
beside Cora, as the two waited for Belle and the young men to come up
the gravel walk.

"Hello, there!" saluted Jack. "More haunted house?"

"No, only more haunts," replied Cora. "Guess he didn't like the style
of the house."

"Oh, you girls are too fussy," said Ed. "Seems to me if I were a young
lady, and saw a young chap hanging under my window, I'd be sort of
flattered."

"We prefer the hanging done in the open," exclaimed Bess. "Besides, he
didn't hang--he sneaked."

"He crawled," declared Belle.

"No, I distinctly saw him creep," corrected Cora.

"Mere baby, evidently," hazarded Walter.

"Well, I suppose he was after----"

"Grub," interrupted Jack. "The creeping, crawling, sneaking kind
invariably want grub. It was a shame to let him go off hungry."

They all took seats upon the broad piazza, after the boys, by a casual
look, were satisfied that no intruder was about the grounds. Belle
kept close to Ed--he was the largest of the young men--but Cora and
Bess showed no signs of fear.

"Let's tell you about it," began Bess.

"Let's," agreed Walter.

"Then listen," ordered the young lady with the very rosy cheeks.

"Listen while they let's," teased Jack.

"I won't say one word," declared Bess; "not if the fellow comes down
the chimney----"

Every one laughed. Bess had such a ridiculous way of getting angry.

"No joking," went on Cora, "when we came up the road we did see a
fellow sneaking around the cottage. I'm not exactly afraid, ahem! but
I may as well admit that I am glad you boys appeared just now, and I
hope the interloper caught a glimpse, ahem! of your manly forms."

The three boys jumped up as if some one had touched a spring. Ed was
taller, Walter was stouter and Jack was--well, he was quicker. Bess
noticed that, and did not hesitate to say so in making her special
report of the trio.

"At any rate," ventured Ed, "we are much obliged, Cora. It's awfully
nice of you to notice us."

"Suppose we take a look through the house," suggested Cora. "Not that
I think anything is wrong. You know, girls are never really afraid----"

"Oh, no! they are only afraid of being afraid," interrupted Walter.
"Well, come along. And, since Ed is the biggest, let him lead!"

The incident merely furni