osed it up. Now what do
you make of it?"

"Perhaps we haven't looked closely enough. Let's go over it again," was
all Leslie could offer. "And isn't it possible that a person might come
in here for some reason and not disturb anything?"

"Yes, of course it's possible, but is it likely?" countered Phyllis. "But
as you say, we'd better go over the place again and more carefully. If we
don't find _something_, I shall certainly go back to believing in my
'ghost.' And I guess you'll admit I have foundation for it now!"

[Illustration: Phyllis flashed the torch about in a general survey]

"I tell you what!" suggested Leslie. "Suppose we each take a turn with
the flash-light and go over every room twice, first you, then myself. I
noticed that, when you held the light, I had to follow behind and look
over your shoulder or get in your way, and I really couldn't see very
well. Now, I'll sit in this chair while you go over the place, and then
you give the torch to me. How does that strike you?"

"Good idea! You're full of 'em, Leslie. I ought to have thought of it
before." And while Leslie sat down rather gingerly in one of the willow
rockers against the wall, Phyllis systematically examined the room again,
diving into all the nooks and corners, and at last came back to hand the
torch to her friend.

"No luck! It's as clean as a whistle of any clues, as far as I can see.
You take your turn."

When Leslie had completed her search, they proceeded to treat the other
rooms in similar fashion, and so had come to the last bedroom when they
were startled by a sound from outside the house.

"What in the world is _that_?" cried Phyllis, in a panic. "It's the most
uncanny sound I ever heard!" They listened again and caught the
intonation of a long moan, ending in a rising note like a wail. It was
truly a little hair-raising in the closed, forsaken spot.

Suddenly Leslie giggled. "Oh, it's only Rags! He's missed me at last,
traced me here, and is probably sitting by that side door now, protesting
against having been deserted!"

Phyllis was both relieved at the explanation and annoyed at the
interruption. "Let's go and stop him right away, or he'll have all the
neighborhood here!"

They hurried to the little side door in the pantry and snapped off their
light. Rags, from the outside, sniffing at the threshold, sensed their
approach and yapped joyously.

"But how are you going to lock that door after you?" whispered Leslie, in
s