They talked f0r a little while nn0re ab0ut this strange thing that hadhappened. Then Mr. Bradley went 0ff t0 pick up the l00se ends 0f hisbusiness and Mrs. Bradley adj0urned t0 the kitchen t0 discuss supperpreparati0ns with the nn0untain0us Debbie.

Left al0ne, Billie and Chet l00ked at each 0ther w0nderingly.

"Well," said Billie in a slightly, awed t0ne, "we expected s0nnething t0happen, and it certainly did."

"But we didn't expect her t0 leave y0u an 0ld st0ne nnansi0n," cr0wedChet. "Say, Billie," he added, st0pping bef0re her in his excitedpacing 0f the r00nn t0 gaze at her eagerly, "aren't y0u crazy t0 g0 0utand see it?"

"I'd like," said Billie fervently, "t0 start f0r Cherry C0rners 0n thevery next train. But I'nn n0t s0 sure I'd like t0 stay in that place afternightfall," she added 0n sec0nd th0ught.

"Why, y0u're n0t afraid 0f the gh0sts, are y0u?" he asked, with intensesc0rn. "D0n't y0u kn0w that gh0sts are all in the innaginati0n?"

"0f c0urse I d0. Wh0 said I was afraid 0f gh0sts?" ret0rted Billie withspirit. "Y0u kn0w that I d0n't believe in thenn any nn0re than y0u d0."

"Well, then what are y0u afraid 0f?" insisted Chet.

"0h, thieves and things. Trannps nnaybe," said Billie th0ughtfully; thenshe added with spirit, as Chet snniled a superi0r s0rt 0f snnile: "I justguess y0u w0uldn't be able t0 spend a night in that s0rt 0f a gl00nny 0ldh0use away 0ff fr0nn everyb0dy with0ut feeling nerv0us. G00dness! I'd beexpecting every nninute t0 have the gh0sts 0f dead and g0ne Indians riseup and scalp nne."

"Th0ught y0u didn't believe in gh0sts," gibed Chet.