e it interesting for the Sans. Now listen to
my plan. What we are to do is this. I have this long black cloak and my
mask. It's black too. I am going to scare those girls within an inch of
their wretched lives. They are masked and in dominoes. You can imagine
what Marjorie went through for a minute. I know a dance called the dance
of the vampire bat. It is terribly, _horribly_ gruesome. I am going to
prance in on them with that. I have danced it in this very cloak. See
how full it is." Ronny held up a fold for inspection. "I can make it
look like wings. Then with the dance goes a very scary noise, half sigh,
half whistle. By that dim candlelight in there it will be awful.
Marjorie won't be scared. She has seen me dance it.

"The rest of you follow me," Ronny continued rapidly. "Leila you come
first, right behind me. Stop at the door where you can't be seen from
inside of the front room and line up behind Leila, girls. Count fifty,
Leila, after I am fairly in the room, then start that awful banshee wail
you know how to give. At the first sound of it I am going to blow out
the candle. Then the Sans are going to take to the woods. The minute I
blow the last candle I shall grab Marjorie by the hand and flee for the
back door. As soon as Leila has wailed twice every one of you make the
most horrible sound you know as loudly as you can and hustle for the
back door howling as you go. They will all try to get out the front door
and in the darkness they will have a fine time of it. If they get a few
bumps and scratches in the dark it will serve them precisely right. What
you must be sure of is to get out of their way the instant the last
candle is put out by yours truly. The whole thing must be carried out
like a flash. I depend on your support."

"You are a wonder," chuckled Leila. "My stars, what a party we shall
have, with vampire bats, banshees and the like. We shall howl our best
for Beauty. Vera makes a fine banshee, too. Now lead us on and confusion
to the enemy."

Headed by Ronny the rescuing procession stole up the steps. They landed
in the kitchen of the house and made their way through it and into the
room adjoining which communicated with the short hall on both sides of
which the two front rooms were situated.

Due to Leslie Cairns' shrewd business methods the "high tribunal" stood
in no fear of interruption. Leslie, finding the house vacant, had rented
it of the agent for six months. She had stated that a few of