straighten out this tangle yet. I must go now. Keep up your courage and
whatever you do, don't tell any one else what you have told me. There
are too many in the secret now."

CHAPTER XXI

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HAUNTED HOUSE

The moment that Grace left Marian, she set her active brain at work for
some solution of the problem she had taken upon her own shoulders. She
had no money, and the members of her sorority had none. Besides, Grace
inwardly resolved not to tell the other girls were it possible to avoid
doing so.

Mrs. Gray would be home before long, and Grace knew that the gentle old
lady would gladly advance the money rather than see Marian disgraced.
But Eleanor had planned to denounce Marian on Thursday, and it was now
Monday.

There was but one course to pursue, and that was to go to Eleanor and
beg her to renounce her scheme of vengeance. Grace felt very dubious as
to the outcome of such an interview. Eleanor had in the past proved
anything but tractable.

"I'll go to-night," decided Grace. "I'm not afraid of the dark. If
mother objects, I'll take Bridget along for protection, although she's
the greatest coward in the world."

Grace giggled a little as she thought of Bridget in the role of
protector.

That night she hurried through her supper, and, barely tasting her
dessert, said abruptly:

"Mother, may I go to Eleanor Savelli's this evening?"

"Away out to 'Heartsease,' Grace? Who is going with you?"

"No one," replied Grace truthfully. "Mother, please don't say no. I
simply must see Eleanor at once."

"But I thought that you were not friendly with Eleanor," persisted Mrs.
Harlowe.

"That is true," Grace answered, "but just now that is the very thing I
want to be. It's this way, mother. Eleanor is going to try to make some
trouble for Marian Barber in the class, and I must act at once if it is
to be prevented."

"More school-girl difficulties," commented Mrs. Harlowe, with a smile.
"But how does it happen that you always seem to be in the thick of the
fight, Grace?"

"I don't know, mother," sighed Grace. "No one dislikes quarrels more
than I do. May I go?"

"Yes," assented her mother, "but you must take Bridget with you. I'll
see her at once and tell her to get ready."

It had been a raw, disagreeable day, and towards evening a cold rain had
set in that was practically half snow. It was anything but an enviable
night for a walk, and Bridget grumbled roundly under her breath as