me, hoping to be able to use it
some time again, thinking it was too good for use "up mounting."

Alfy was now in the barn and had just reached the closed door when she
heard a curious "tap-tap." Alfy was not afraid. She never had been
what the boys call a "scare-cat," but it seemed kind of funny, so she
stood still and listened. "Tap-tap."

"My," thought Alfy. "What's that? Oh, it's----"

"Tap-tap," again and this time the sound came from right over
Alfaretta's head, making her start and her heart go thump, thump so
loud she thought whoever it was tapping could hear it. She tried to
move, but stood rooted to the spot. "Tap-tap." This time to the right
of the girl. Then Alfy summoned her lost courage and said as calmly as
she could, "Who's there?"

No one responded, and in a few seconds, "Tap-tap," came the sound to
the left of the girl. Then thoroughly scared, as the room was half
dark and rapidly growing darker, Alfy turned and ran, stumbling over
an old stool as she tried to make the door in great haste.

Matthew heard her and came running up, saying: "What's the matter,
sis?" He had been unhitching Barnabas, as Ma Babcock was through with
him now.

"Oh!" moaned Alfy. "It's some one in the closet. I heard them
tap-tapping and got scared and ran. Gosh, my shin hurts! There!"
giving the stool that had caused the disaster a vicious kick.

"Maybe--oh, Alfy! Maybe----" chimed in Matthew. "Maybe its a ghost."

"Ma! Ma!" screached Alfy.

"Ma! Ma!" yelled Matthew.

Both by this time were rapidly approaching the kitchen.

"Well," said Ma Babcock, "You--land o' livin'--you look as though
you'd seen a ghost."

"Ma," murmured Alfy, "we didn't see him, I heard him. He's in the
closet in the barn."

And then both children started in to talk and explain at the same time
so that ma couldn't understand a word.

"Here, you--you Alfy, tell me all. You, Matthew, keep still," she
exclaimed.

Then Alfy told her how she heard the tapping on the door of the
closet.

"Come, we'll all go back and see," said Ma Babcock, and with that they
all started for the barn, Alfy limping after ma and Matthew.

When they reached the upstairs room they tip-toed to the closet and
listened, and after waiting a few minutes and hearing nothing, ma
called loudly, "Is anyone in there?" No answer came. Then she quickly
flung open the closet door, and what did they hear but the flutter,
flutter of wings, and then they saw, perched high on th