It was a merry little group. Mr. Pangborn said everything was in readiness to announce to Granny, with the sanction of the head of the State Park Commission, that at least she would have a new chance to prove her claim.

"And about the party," suggested Arden. "Just what are we going to do at it?"

"We shall need some refreshments, I suppose," said Sim. "I can get Moselle to arrange about that. We can pack them into my car and take them to the Hall. Only we'll be a bit crowded in the roadster."

"I'll bring my car," Harry said. "But, as there are quite a few things to do, wouldn't it be wise to take d.i.c.k and Betty into our confidence?"

"And let them help," spoke Terry.

"Yes. d.i.c.k and I can get in the wood and put the chairs and other furniture in place. I saw a table there for the food," said Harry.

"Oh, it's going to be just-_grand_!" murmured Sim dramatically.

"But tell Betty and d.i.c.k not to let Granny know about it," warned Arden.

"That would spoil the surprise."

"I'll caution them," Harry promised. "I'll go see d.i.c.k at the livery stable in the morning and also stop at the library and tell Betty. I've been in there for books before."

"What about Viney?" asked Sim. "Should she be told?"

"I'll leave that to d.i.c.k and Betty," said Harry. "They can use their best judgment. I only hope she doesn't break up the little affair. She's very queer, you say?"

"More than queer-vindictive," declared Arden.

"But when she hears the big state news, things are going to ease up a little, I think," said Sim.

They talked over the plan, made some changes, and when Harry left that evening all details were practically settled.

He telephoned the next day, about noon, to say that he had seen Betty and d.i.c.k and that they were delighted with the matter. They both said, Harry reported, that Viney must be told or she might break out into a sudden tantrum at the last moment when she learned about it.

"She probably won't come to the party," Harry said. Betty had informed him, but that would be all right, he added. The two grandchildren would escort Mrs. Howe to the old mansion the evening of the affair, at a predetermined hour, on pretense that it would probably be the last Christmas she would ever see with the old house standing.

It was the day before Christmas. d.i.c.k and Harry, with the help of a stable boy, had brought much dry wood into the old Hall. The girls had, each one, bought some little token for Granny and something for Viney, "in case," Arden said, "she shows up at the last moment and starts a fuss. We'll have to treat her like a child."

Betty and d.i.c.k entered into the spirit of the affair and could not say enough in praise of the girls who had thought of it.

"Granny is going to be very happy about it all," said Betty gratefully.

"I hope so," said Arden. "By the way, Betty, did you ever get those old books you were looking for in the cellar?"

"I never did. But I'm going in when the house is razed. It will be light down there then. There may be some valuable volumes, the librarian says."

In the days that pa.s.sed between the one before Christmas and the episode of the "mistletoe," nothing had happened at Sycamore Hall, as far as Arden and her chums could learn. There were no more strange manifestations. But then no workmen were engaged in tearing the place apart.

d.i.c.k and Betty decided not to say anything to Viney Tucker until the afternoon of the party. Otherwise she might have too long a time to brood over it and get some obstreperous notions busy in her old bonnet.

All the preparations were finished. Moselle had made up a delightful picnic lunch for an evening supper, with thermos bottles of coffee and chocolate. The things were taken to the Hall by Harry in his car, and a hearth fire was lighted early in the afternoon to drive the chill off the big old room.

Evening came, and after an early meal the girls and Harry went, in two carloads, to the old Hall. Candles had been brought for illumination, and there was quite a collection of flashlights for emergencies.

Then Arden, her chums, and Harry trooped into the place. More wood was piled on the fire. The hour approached when d.i.c.k and Betty were to bring in Granny Howe.

Footsteps were heard on the porch-voices-laughter.

"What in the world are you tykes up to?" Granny could be heard asking of Betty and d.i.c.k. Her voice was jovial.

They brought in the dear old lady-into the candlelighted room, where the roaring fire flickered on branches of holly that the girls, with a last moment thought, had hung around the walls.

"Oh-what-what is all this?" faltered Granny as she saw the little throng of happy, smiling faces. "What does it mean?"

"Merry Christmas, Granny! Merry Christmas!" cried the girls.

And Granny, trembling a little, took the old squat rocker before the hearth fire while the merry throng cheered around her.

This was indeed a Christmas party!

CHAPTER XXVI Two Ghosts

Several rather tense seconds pa.s.sed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise. The smile that had been on her cheery face when d.i.c.k and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker. There was a puzzled expression in her eyes.

"Well, Granny," asked Betty, "don't you like it?"

"Pretty fine, if you ask me," said d.i.c.k.

"Oh, but what does it all mean?" murmured the old lady. "I can't understand. They told me," she went on, looking from Betty to d.i.c.k, "that someone here wanted to see me. They suggested it might be the last time I could view this dear old room, as the contractor would probably rush the work of tearing the house down after Christmas. So I came. Here I am. But what does it mean?" She was bewildered.

"We are the ones who wanted to see you, Granny Howe," said Sim.

"We thought you would like a last little party in your old home," said Terry, who managed to get along with only a slight limp now. "And here it is!" She pulled aside a cloth that had been put over the food piled on an old table.

"How kind of you," Granny said. There was a suspicious brightness in her eyes.

"But it is going to be more than just a little party," spoke Arden. "We have some good news for you."

"News," supplemented Dorothy, "which we hope will make your Christmas very happy." Doubtless Dorothy felt that, like some, of her actress mother's experiences, this was a sort of play and all the actors must contribute a line.

"What news?" faltered Granny Howe.

"Mr. Pangborn will tell you!" said Arden, pushing Harry forward, for he had shifted about until he was behind Dorothy. "It was his idea, and he must have the credit for it."

"Oh, nonsense! I don't want any credit. And you girls are as much in it as I am!" Harry protested. "You tell her, Arden!"

"No. It requires a man's legal mind to go into the details. Go on, Harry.

Can't you see she is on the verge of a breakdown if you keep her in suspense much longer?" she whispered. Indeed, the old lady was trembling more than a little. d.i.c.k, too, seemed a little uncertain of what the next move was to be. But Betty's eyes were very bright. Sim, Terry, and Dorothy were smiling happily.