hinged coffin,” Flo corrected her. “That was what you wanted us to think, wasn’t it? Well, I’m not going to be frightened out of my wits again. I’m going to stay right here until I find out what is happening—and why.”
“I’d like to find out, too,” Irene began.
“Oh, yes,” scoffed Flo. “You and Judy are always finding out things. I saw how well she played the 123
part of her cousin Roxy. Walter Brand still thinks he was talking to Roxy.”
“That’s right,” Pauline agreed, suddenly siding with Flo against Judy.
“But can’t you see what’s happening?” Irene pleaded. “It was ‘Roxy’ and Flo, the two heirs, he seemed so eager to take across in that boat. You and I were unimportant, Pauline. As for little Judy, she was in no danger. She isn’t about to inherit any part of the Terry estate.”
“But you made an offer to buy it,” Pauline objected. “I’m the only one who has no interest in it.
That being the case, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t accept Mr. Brand’s offer of a ride.”
“When you put it that way, I don’t see any reason, either. What about you, Irene?” Judy asked.
“I’d sort of like to stay,” the golden-haired girl confessed. “I don’t mind if the Sand Castle is haunted. I’m like you, Judy, I’ve lived in haunted houses before. I’ll stay here until Friday, if necessary, to clear up all this mystery.”
“Maybe I could stay, too, if I gave up my vacation. This is important,” declared Flo. “I think my boss will understand and my parents will simply have to accept the fact that I’m old enough to make my own decisions.”
“I wish Emily Grimshaw would be that reasonable, but it’s too much to expect,” Pauline 124
said. “I have to get over there some way, and I don’t see what anyone would have to gain by not taking me. I’m not an heir to be frightened or kept conveniently out of the way until the pie is divided,” she pointed out. “Girls, I’m willing to take a chance and ride across with Captain Ottwell if only to find out if that woman you claim you saw is aboard.”
“I’m interested in the box—and what was in it,” confessed Judy.
“I’m—not,” Flo said with an unmistakable shudder.
“We have to come to a decision before the boat leaves,” Judy continued. “Maybe it would be better if we stayed together.”
“No,” Pauline objected. “I simply have to be back to work tomorrow at the very latest. Come to the boat with me, Judy. Then you can see for yourself if this apparition or whatever it is gets aboard.”
“I do want to see. If only I were two people,” Judy lamented. “Then I could go with you, Pauline, and stay with Irene and Flo at the same time. Yes, and with little Judy.”
“You are two people,” Flo reminded her. “You’d better remember it if anyone sees you. That lawyer thinks you’re your cousin Roxy.”
“Yes, and you know what that means,” Irene added significantly.
“It means that, as a relative, I’m in danger, too.
125
Well, if it turns out to be a matter of life or death,” Judy said more cheerfully, “you can always telephone Peter and get fast action. He’d call out the Coast Guard, if necessary, to rescue me.” It was agreed that a telephone call to Peter might be the only answer to the predicament in which the girls found themselves. After it was made they would be as safe at the Sand Castle as anywhere.
But how safe would Pauline be on Captain Ottwell’s boat?
“You don’t know him or anything,” Judy protested as they started off toward the dock where the boat was supposed to be waiting. “The fact that he is Walter Brand’s friend is no recommendation.
Anyway, maybe he won’t take you.”
“He will if I pay him. Stop acting so gloomy, Judy. It’s really turned out to be a beautiful day. A little foggy, of course, but you could enjoy this walk if you’d just stop worrying.”
“I’ll try,” Judy promised, seeing Pauline’s
“I’d like to find out, too,” Irene began.
“Oh, yes,” scoffed Flo. “You and Judy are always finding out things. I saw how well she played the 123
part of her cousin Roxy. Walter Brand still thinks he was talking to Roxy.”
“That’s right,” Pauline agreed, suddenly siding with Flo against Judy.
“But can’t you see what’s happening?” Irene pleaded. “It was ‘Roxy’ and Flo, the two heirs, he seemed so eager to take across in that boat. You and I were unimportant, Pauline. As for little Judy, she was in no danger. She isn’t about to inherit any part of the Terry estate.”
“But you made an offer to buy it,” Pauline objected. “I’m the only one who has no interest in it.
That being the case, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t accept Mr. Brand’s offer of a ride.”
“When you put it that way, I don’t see any reason, either. What about you, Irene?” Judy asked.
“I’d sort of like to stay,” the golden-haired girl confessed. “I don’t mind if the Sand Castle is haunted. I’m like you, Judy, I’ve lived in haunted houses before. I’ll stay here until Friday, if necessary, to clear up all this mystery.”
“Maybe I could stay, too, if I gave up my vacation. This is important,” declared Flo. “I think my boss will understand and my parents will simply have to accept the fact that I’m old enough to make my own decisions.”
“I wish Emily Grimshaw would be that reasonable, but it’s too much to expect,” Pauline 124
said. “I have to get over there some way, and I don’t see what anyone would have to gain by not taking me. I’m not an heir to be frightened or kept conveniently out of the way until the pie is divided,” she pointed out. “Girls, I’m willing to take a chance and ride across with Captain Ottwell if only to find out if that woman you claim you saw is aboard.”
“I’m interested in the box—and what was in it,” confessed Judy.
“I’m—not,” Flo said with an unmistakable shudder.
“We have to come to a decision before the boat leaves,” Judy continued. “Maybe it would be better if we stayed together.”
“No,” Pauline objected. “I simply have to be back to work tomorrow at the very latest. Come to the boat with me, Judy. Then you can see for yourself if this apparition or whatever it is gets aboard.”
“I do want to see. If only I were two people,” Judy lamented. “Then I could go with you, Pauline, and stay with Irene and Flo at the same time. Yes, and with little Judy.”
“You are two people,” Flo reminded her. “You’d better remember it if anyone sees you. That lawyer thinks you’re your cousin Roxy.”
“Yes, and you know what that means,” Irene added significantly.
“It means that, as a relative, I’m in danger, too.
125
Well, if it turns out to be a matter of life or death,” Judy said more cheerfully, “you can always telephone Peter and get fast action. He’d call out the Coast Guard, if necessary, to rescue me.” It was agreed that a telephone call to Peter might be the only answer to the predicament in which the girls found themselves. After it was made they would be as safe at the Sand Castle as anywhere.
But how safe would Pauline be on Captain Ottwell’s boat?
“You don’t know him or anything,” Judy protested as they started off toward the dock where the boat was supposed to be waiting. “The fact that he is Walter Brand’s friend is no recommendation.
Anyway, maybe he won’t take you.”
“He will if I pay him. Stop acting so gloomy, Judy. It’s really turned out to be a beautiful day. A little foggy, of course, but you could enjoy this walk if you’d just stop worrying.”
“I’ll try,” Judy promised, seeing Pauline’s
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