CHAPTER V.

THE GHOST.
ORA’S startled cry rang out so suddenly and
unexpectedly that for a moment we could
do nothing but gaze stupidly in the direction she
pointed. Even Sherlock Holmes’s wits seemed to
leave him, and old Peter was the first to pull him- self together.
“Some one gone into the turret, d’ye say? Like enough it’s another o’ them pestering ghosts or bogles or whatever they be. Was it in white, missy ?”
“No, I think it was in navy blue or gray; but it moved so quick I hardly saw it. O Peter, I am frightened. Do you really think it was a ghost?”
Poor Nora clung, white and trembling, to the old man, who took her hands in his and patted them kindly.
“There, there,” he said soothingly, “don’t ’ee be frightened, dearie; old Peter will take care of you.
70 THE GHOST.
Ghosts don’t walk in daylight. Like enough it was only a shadow.”
“No, no, it wasn’t a shadow; I am sure I saw something. Oh, do let us get out of the castle again.”
The old man paused irresolute. To do him justice, he had little fear. of anything in daylight, and his sense of duty urged him to make an immediate search for the strange intruder.
“ Ay, ay,” he said at last, “I'll take you back again. But stay you here with Master Frank and his friend, while I look into the turret. Then we—’”
“No, no; I want to stay with you,’ pleaded Nora.
The sight of her fear somehow banished my own uneasy feelings and made me feel ashamed.
“Let us all go together,” I suggested, “and make a search. Perhaps,” I added, with a glance at the president to remind him of the main purpose of our errand—“ perhaps we might come across a clue.” Sherlock certainly did not jump, at my suggestion, but Peter settled the matter for him. ‘
“Ay, ay, we'll all go together,’ he said, putting the keys in his pocket and grasping his stick more firmly. “Come along.”
THE GHOST. 71
We started back down the gallery, with Nora between us and Frank following just behind. The latter pointed out to me afterwards that in a retreat the rear is always the post of danger and honour, but certainly this did not strike us at the time. The distance seemed somehow to have increased, and our steps rang loud in the stillness of the empty gallery; but at last we entered the corridor, and reached the little passage running off it. Here we were forced to proceed in single file, and Peter led the way, with Nora close behind. Not a sound was to be heard save our own shuffling footsteps, and almost before we were aware of it we had passed through a narrow stone archway, and found ourselves in the little round turret. The room was empty! A slanting ray of sunshine glinting through the low latticed window lit up the bare stone walls and emphasized the fact that there was no one there. The members of the Sherlock Holmes Society breathed more freely and plucked up courage. Old Peter grunted.
“Humph,” he muttered; “it is always the same— nothing to be found.”
We gazed round the empty room curiously. This was the place from whence had shone the mysterious
light which had startled Peter, and from under our
72 THE GHOST.
feet had come the ominous sounds he had heard. In olden times, doubtless, the room had been occupied by archers and men at arms; but nowadays, in daylight, at any rate, the place seemed commonplace enough.
“No clues to be picked up here,” whispered Frank to me after a professional glance round; “we are on the wrong scent.”
Reassured by our investigations, the president was now anxious to make further explorations; but Mycroft stoutly objected, saying she had seen enough for one day, and wanted to go home. After a somewhat acrimonious discussion the president gave in, on the understanding that an hour's fielding at the nets would be exacted in return for his clemency. As we turned to leave the room my eye caught sight of something white lying against the wall just under the window, and hardly knowing why, I picked up the half-burned match and put it in my pocket. Then hastening after the others, we passed through the billiard and gun rooms to the side door by which we had entered. Here we said good-bye to Peter. Since entering the turret the old man had been strangely silent, and we all noticed how red his face had become and how heavily he breathed. His voice, too, was husky and his utterance thick.
THE GHOST. 73
“T must go back to pull down the blinds and lock the doors,” he said. “Good-bye, Miss Nora—good- bye, young gentlemen. Come again soon.”
“Good-bye, Peter,” we chorussed, waving our hands to him, none of us guessing what a long farewell we were bidding the kind old man.
“ How red and funny he looks!” remarked Nora as we walked down the avenue.
“He’s still funky, I expect,’ replied her brother carelessly as he strode along whistling gaily, having evidently quite recovered his spirits.
“T don’t believe he’s a bit funky,” retorted Nora; “people turn white when they are frightened—like you and Humphrey.”
“T didn’t get white,” protested Frank indignantly; “it was only you with your silly crying. I don’t believe there was anything there after all.”
Our arrival at the lodge, and the discovery that: one of Nora’s tyres needed pumping, prevented further squabbling, and once we were mounted and out on the open road Frank’s next remark turned our thoughts to the object of the expe- dition.
“T say,” he exclaimed excitedly, “I’ve discovered aclue! Did either of you notice that little square
74, THE GHOST.
window in the corridor near the turret? Well, it was open; I’m sure it was.”
“But what good is that?” I asked.
“Why, don’t you see, stupid, that’s the way the ghost gets in and out!”
“But ghosts don’t need open windows,” objected Nora; “they can go wherever they want.”
This was rather a poser for Sherlock, who contented himself with repeating doggedly, “It’s a clue anyway, and neither of you noticed anything. I told you Mycroft wasn’t really up to much!”
“He is—I mean I am,” said Nora, annoyed at this taunt. “I found a far better clue than that, but I won't tell you. You will only laugh at me, I know.”
“No, no, we won't; do tell us,” I urged.
“Well,” she replied slowly, “when the ghost turned into the little passage leading to the turret the light was very bad; but I saw it pretty clearly, and I think —I think it was—”
“Who, who?” we asked eagerly.
“Win Kee!”
“The colonel’s Chinaman again!”
“Win Kee! rubbish! You and Humphrey are always trying to make out that he is a scoundrel.”
“Well, you asked me to tell you, and promised not
THE GHOST. 75
to laugh at me. I’m sure the real Sherlock Holmes wouldn’t,”
Frank was about to make some scofling remark when I interposed.
“Tt is a more exciting clue than mine,” I began, fumbling in my pocket with my left hand.
“Bravo, Watson,” cried Frank; “let's hear yours.”
“You won't think it much good, but just as we left the turret I saw something white lying on the floor, and picked up—this.”
“Only a match,” exclaimed Frank in disgust,
“ Another wax vesta,” said Nora, “It is funny that you should have found one there too.”
“Oh, you mean it has something to do with the one you saw in the study at home when we searched it. I don’t see why you should look upon it as a clue. Every one uses matches.”
“Yes, but I don’t think Peter uses wax vestas. I saw a box of these cheap wooden ones lying in his house.”
“ But even then IJ don’t see that it proves anything,” argued Frank, evidently annoyed that the match had escaped his notice.
“Sherlock Holmes found clues in apples and
cigar ashes,’ remarked Nora, who appeared to
76 THE GHOST.
have been studying the memoirs of the famous detective.
“Yes, but people don’t smoke matches,’ Frank.
“No, but they light cigars and candles with them,”
b
retorted
I observed, “and there were a lot of grease marks on the stone floor.”
By this time we had passed through the village and reached the sharp hill leading up on to the cliffs. The ascent was too much for Nora, and I dismounted to keep her company; but putting on a tremendous spurt, Frank managed to rush the incline. Almost immediately he came tearing back, shouting excitedly, “T told you—all rot—he’s here.”
“Who’s here? What did you tell us?” we asked in bewilderment.
“Win Kee. He’s working in the colonel’s garden. Look, there he is. How about seeing him at the castle now ?” :
He was right. Even at that distance it was impossible to mistake the figure Frank pointed out and as president of the Sherlock Holmes Society he proceeded to show his sister the folly of allowing her imagination to run away with her, and also of jumping
to conclusions.
anghyans"
THE GHOST. Ti
“Tf it hadn’t been for you we might have been at Fareham yet finding out all sorts of things,” was his final crushing reproof.
“ But perhaps he ran back in front of us,” suggested Nora, much crestfallen.
“Perhaps he didn’t,” jeered Frank. “He must be a rattling good runner when we couldn’t overtake him on our bikes; and Humphrey told me that Chinamen are poor runners.—Didn’t you, Humphrey ?”
“Yes,” I admitted, ‘they aren’t much good except the rickshaw coolies; but somehow Win Kee is unlike any of the Chinamen I remember. He is too—”
“‘ There you go,” interrupted Frank, ‘running down the poor beggar. You both seem to have a spite against him. You’ll be making out he’s a burglar in disguise next. Anyhow, Nora’s spoilt the afternoon, and we’ll have to begin all over again.”
“Oh, well, never mind,’’ I said as we wheeled our bikes into the outhouse; ‘‘ you’ve discovered that clue about the open window, you know, and there’s plenty of time for a game at cricket yet before dinner. Nora and I will play you—giving you the innings. What do you say ?”
With the prospect of a long spell of batting, Frank accepted the challenge at once, and the wickets were
| 78 THE GHOST.
soon pitched on the lawn in front of the house. Nora was inclined to be huffy at first, but forgot her grievances when she had the pleasure of bowling the president for a duck’segg. The latter took his revenge in his second innings, and Bouncer and I had a busy and exciting time fielding. The retriever enjoyed the game as much as any of us, and had to be chased as often as the ball. Aided by his antics, Frank’s score rose by leaps and bounds until at last his ally proved his undoing. The batsman took a mighty swipe, and made a mishit over his head. Bouncer picked up the ball before I could reach it, and was off like a flash. Round and round the lawn he scampered amidst a chorus of yells and shouts. “Catch him, Humphrey catch him!” cried Nora.
“Bravo, Bouncer; run, good dog!” panted Frank, tearing up and down the pitch. Hight had already been scored off the hit, when, endeavouring to dodge a desperate rush on my part, the puppy brushed against the wicket towards which the batsman was running. “ How’s that?” I yelled.
“Out!” cried Nora in delight“ Well stumped, Bouncer !”
Frank was too much puffed out to protest, and when
he had recovered breath he announced that his innings
THE GHOST. : 79
totalled seventy-six. Nora was inclined to dispute his arithmetic; but as the dinner hour was drawing near there was no time to lose, and she took up her position at the crease. Frank was too fagged to bowl his fastest, and whenever the bat touched the ball I took care that Bouncer should do the fielding. In this way the score mounted quickly, and before she was bowled Nora had the satisfaction of making thirty-seven— the highest score in her career. Even our opponent joined generously in the applause which greeted her on retiring, and Bouncer gambolled about barking excitedly, as much as to say, “ Well done, well done; but don’t forget my share.” Knowing that only a few minutes remained for play, I went in for slogging with such success that it seemed likely that our side would win after all. When within five of the opposing total, however, Frank brought off a splendid catch which ended the game, and we had just time to put away the stumps and have a hasty wash before the dinner bell rang.
“Well, children,” said Dr. Naismith, looking from one flushed face to another, “you seem to have been making up for your enforced idleness this morning. I heard the shouts from my study. How did the
game go?”
80 THE GHOST.
“Oh, Frank won as usual, father. I bowled him the first time, and Bouncer ran him out the second. You should have seen Humphrey chasing him; it was great fun.”
“Who was it Humphrey was chasing, eh ?—Frank or Bouncer ?”
“Bouncer, of course. He ran away with the ball whenever he got it.”
“ And I fancy he was allowed to get it very often when a certain little girl was batting,” remarked Mrs. Naismith, smiling. “ How many runs did you make ?”
“Thirty-seven,” was the proud reply.
“Dear me, what a tremendous score!” exclaimed Dr. Naismith in mock astonishment. “ You boys will have to look to your laurels at this rate. But where were you after tea? When I got home about five you were all out.”
“Oh, we bicycled over to Fareham Castle,” began Frank, eager to relate our doings. “ We wanted to let Humphrey see the place; and, besides, it was a chance for the society—I mean to get clues, you know, and—”
He stopped and poured himself out another glass of water to hide his confusion, while Dr. Naismith looked at his wife and smiled.
THE GHOST. 81
“That mysterious society again! Really we must inquire into this,” he said, his eyes twinkling; “ it would never do for a respectable country doctor to harbour a secret society under his roof. I must warn old Peter—Take care they don’t lead you into mis- chief, Humphrey. And what did you think of the castle ?”
“Tt seems a jolly big place,” I answered, seeing Frank’s embarrassment, “and the pictures are splendid. We—”
“Oh yes, the pictures,” interrupted Nora; “I meant to tell you about that, mother. Just fancy, when we came to the one of Lord Gresham’s grandmother, Lady Violet, they all said I was so like her; and really I think I am—a little.”
“ How very curious!’ said Mrs. Naismith. ‘I don’t remember the picture well, it is so long since I have been through the castle; but I must make a point some of these days of seeing this wonderful likeness.”
“Lady Violet,” repeated Dr. Naismith, thoughtfully stroking his beard: “she was Colonel Leighton’s grandmother also. Perhaps that is why he has taken such a fancy to you. If that is so, it proves that his memory is not altogether lost. Did you go
up to the tower and see the view?” (1,471) 6
82 THE GHOST.
“ No, we hadn’t time,” said Frank, joining in again. ‘Nora pretended she saw a ghost or something, and insisted on coming home.”
“ What! more ghosts, Nora? Are you sure it wasn’t just another rat ?”’
“No, mother,” replied poor Nora, blushing; “I really thought I saw a shadow in the corridor, and it was so dark and quiet I got a fright.”
“She said it was Win Kee,’ went on Frank contemptuously. ‘‘ Humphrey and she are always seeing him somewhere.”
“Win Kee! What made you think it was he, dear ?”
‘“*T—TI don’t know. It just seemed to me it was like him.”
‘* We searched the corridor and the turret, and there was no one there,” continued Frank triumphantly; ‘“‘and when we biked home at a good pace, we saw Win Kee working in the colonel’s garden. So it simply couldn’t have been him.”
“Hardly ; if you bicycled straight back here, you would have been sure to pass him on the way. Had Peter been telling you any more about his wonderful ghost ?”
“Yes, he told us where he had seen the first one,
THE GHOST. 83
‘and described the sounds he heard coming from the cellars.”
“ Aha! I thought that would be the way of it,” said Dr. Naismith ; ‘‘and it explains the mysterious ghost you saw, Nora. It was simply your imagination, stimulated by the semi-darkness and stillness of the empty house. You must not allow yourself to become so nervous, little girl. All the same, I expect some of the others were frightened too, eh?”
““T know I was in a funk,” I confessed guiltily.
“Well, well, we are all apt to let our imaginations get the better of us occasionally,” said the doctor, smiling ; ‘“‘ but I must speak to Peter seriously.”
““T think he was in a funk too,” said Frank; ‘ he got awfully red and funny, and his voice was quite husky.”
“Didhe? He'll frighten himself into an apoplectic fit some of these days, silly old fellow. I must go and see him to-morrow.—By-the-bye,”’ continued the doctor, addressing his wife as she rose to leave the table, “I meant to tell you some news I heard from Robinson the banker to-day, but this story about ghosts put it out of my head. It seems that a lot of false notes and coins are being circulated in the
neighbourhood just now; and the police are taking up
84 THE GHOST
the matter. I understand that a man from Scotland Yard may be sent down.”
“They surely don’t suspect any one in or round about Peddlington, do they, John? I am certain all the villagers are honest and respectable.”
“I don’t know if they suspect any one yet, but you had better be on your guard when you receive change. It would never do to give bad money for birthday presents—eh, Nora ?”
“Oh no, father; do look after that money in your study.”
“Golly!” exclaimed Frank. ‘I hope old Martha didn’t give me bad coins when I bought these bull’s eyes.”
He pulled out two or three coppers from his pocket, and examined them with such an air of doubt and dismay that we all burst out laughing.
“IT don’t think you need worry, my boy,” said his father, smiling; ‘I never heard of coiners issuing
false pennies.”