BART Ranieau’s remark about the White Witch intrigued the girls, who immediately pleaded with him to tell them the story connected with the cave.

“Okay,” he agreed, “but I’m late on my route this morning, so I’ll have to make the tale brief. Calico Cave is very old. It was here before the village was incorporated and has had a half dozen names over the years.

“According to an ancient legend, an old witch once lived in the cave, arousing the villagers by casting horrible spells upon them. In their terror they called upon a monk who once resided in the mountains, to turn the old hag into stone. So now in a chamber of the cave you may see a strange stalagmite formation—the White Witch.”

“Is that a true story?” Virginia asked, deeply impressed.

“The legend is true. As for the White Witch, you can see her if you’ve a mind to explore as far as the first chamber.”

“You don’t believe that tale yourself, I take it?” Miss Ward inquired with a broad smile.

“I think the story was made up to explain the white formation, which does resemble a witch,” Bart answered. “Over the years, the yarn took on more and more detail and color.”

“I’d love to see that old stalagmite witch,” Judy declared, her dark eyes sparkling. “How deep down in the cave is the formation?”

“Too far for you to explore alone,” the milkman responded. “Don’t try it. Not without a guide. Caves are safe enough, if one takes precautions, but they’re no place for amateur explorers, unsupervised.”

“Does Calico Cave have any other interesting formations besides the Witch?” Judy inquired.

“Oh, gobs of ’em. Few persons though, have gone past the old White Witch. In fact, it’s part of the legend that she casts a spell upon all who go beyond that point in the cave.”

“You’ve disproved that part of the legend?” the Girl Scout leader questioned.

“Well, the old witch cast her spell over me all right,” Bart admitted with a chuckle. “Not an evil one though. The Cave fascinates me, and if I had time, I’d really delve into its innermost secrets.”

“Ardeth and I thought we saw a moving light in the cavern late yesterday afternoon,” Judy remarked. “Maybe you were down there exploring.”

“Not yesterday,” Bart replied. “You’re certain you saw a light?”

“Oh, yes, it startled us. Either someone was down in the cave, or it was that old witch!” “It wasn’t the old witch,” Bart assured her. “She’s a harmless old gal and has stayed fixed for a thousand years, more or less. I can’t guess who might be down in the cave, because folks hereabouts seldom venture in.”

“You spoke of former Calico Cottage renters moving out because of strange sounds which disturbed them,” Miss Ward reminded the young milkman. “Can you tell us more about it?”

“Did the other folks ever hear a flute player?” interposed Ardeth.

“Seems to me I heard some such talk.”

“And loud banging noises at night?” demanded Judy.

“I reckon so.”

“Tell us everything!” urged Virginia. “Is Calico Cottage supposed to be haunted? Is that why Mr. Krumm has trouble keeping his renters?”

“All I know is what I hear,” Bart replied evasively. “I wouldn’t have told you about the White Witch, only I could tell that you Scouts aren’t easily scared.”

“Is there any connection between Calico Cottage and the Witch?” Judy questioned.

“Only as she’s supposed to have cast her spell over the place. The last tenants had a cat. One night she became scared at some noise and leaped through a window, shattering the glass. The folks moved out, came dawn. I know because I met ’em as they were driving away. Tried to talk ’em into staying, but they were dead set the cottage was haunted.”

“You don’t believe that nonsense yourself?” Miss Ward inquired.

“Nope. I think there’s a logical explanation for the cottage cutting up the way it does. I’d tip Krumm off if he weren’t such a disagreeable egg. He took advantage of old Captain Hager in buying the property, and the townsfolk never quite forgave him.”

“Is Captain Hager still alive?” questioned Ardeth.

“Very much so,” Bart told her. “The old sea dog is edging seventy now, but he’s as spry as ever. Since Krumm got the old homestead away from him, he’s lived frugally in a cabin down on the river.”

“The cave, you said, was named for Captain Hager?”

“Yes, it bore his name ever since I can remember. Then Krumm bought all this property, including the private road and the cave. Right off, he changed the name to Calico Cave.”

“But why?” inquired Judy.

“Well, he didn’t want the cave to have Captain Hager’s name, for one thing. There’s no love between them, you know. Then I guess he thought Hager’s Hole was too closely associated with talk of the White Witch and death.”

“Death?” Ardeth repeated uneasily. “One man lost his life in the cave. Another explorer—an amateur—broke his leg, and a searching party had to bring him out. Not so many months ago, a group of giddy girls went in without a guide. They lost their way, and wandered around for several hours before help got to them. The stories they told around didn’t help any. So Krumm changed the cave name.”

“I can see that the cavern is no drawing card,” Miss Ward remarked. “When first I saw the cave sign, I assumed that the place might be a tourist attraction.”

“It could be,” Bart said seriously. “That cave has everything! Fantastic formations beyond belief! An underground river, a waterfall, everything to attract visitors, if facilities could be provided. But Krumm has no imagination, and he’s too tight to spend a penny developing the cave. It’s a pity the property ever came into his possession.”

The Scouts had a dozen more questions at the tip of their tongues. Before they could ask any of them, a familiar automobile drove up, parking squarely in front of the Cloverleaf milk truck.

Mr. Krumm squeezed out from behind the wheel and walked directly over to the group. He gazed sharply at Bart, his attitude unfriendly.

“I thought I’d drop by to inquire how you’re getting along,” he said, ignoring the milkman and bowing to Miss Ward. “You have found the cottage quite comfortable, I trust?” “It seems to be very well equipped,” the teacher conceded. “I can’t say we spent too comfortable a night, though. We were disturbed by strange sounds.”

“Strange sounds?” The real estate man registered surprise which was not in the least convincing.

“We heard music, and thumping noises,” Judy supplied. “It seems your cottage has a ghost.”

“No such thing!” Mr. Krumm indignantly denied. “That’s all bosh! You’ve been listening to stupid gossip.”

“You should have told us the truth about the cottage before we rented it,” Miss Ward reproved him mildly. “Judy’s aunt will be coming shortly, and we hesitate to turn over a place to her that may be unnerving or possibly unsafe.”

“There’s nothing wrong with the cottage,” Mr. Krumm flared. “You’ve been talking to Bart Ranieau, and he’s been filling you with hot air!”

“We were asking him about the cottage and likewise about the cave,” Miss Ward admitted. “If we’re to remain here another night, we want all the information we can get.”

“I was telling ’em about the White Witch,” Bart interposed to plague the realtor.

“How many times have I told you to keep your nose out of my affairs?” Mr. Krumm demanded furiously. “You can’t keep that wagging, clacking tongue of yours still! You’ve driven away all of my tenants, one by one.” “That’s not so, Krumm, and you know it.”

“You fill ’em up with fears about White Witches and such nonsense. I want no more of it, understand? Furthermore, I want you to keep off my property. Don’t be snooping around Calico Cave any more!”

“You can’t keep me from exploring,” Bart returned coolly. “You may own the land, but not what’s below the surface.”

“You stay out of that cave, and away from it,” Mr. Krumm repeated his order.

Bart grinned provokingly, and without making answer, drove off down the road.

“That young whippersnapper gets my blood up!” Mr. Krumm asserted after the milk wagon had vanished around a curve. “I wouldn’t have ordered him to keep off the property, only he’s become a pest.”

“I take it, you don’t consider the cave safe?” Judy inquired curiously.

“Oh, it’s safe enough, if you don’t wander in too far,” the real estate man replied with a shrug. “My order doesn’t apply to you folks. If you want to see the cave, you can go down there any time.”

“I don’t believe I’d care to explore,” Ardeth said with a shiver. “Not after learning that a man died in the cave.”

“Bart told you about that, I suppose?” Mr. Krumm questioned sarcastically.

“Isn’t it true?” “Bart didn’t tell you why the man lost his life,” Mr. Krumm said, without answering the inquiry. “No, he just filled you up with a lot of nonsense about a White Witch.”

“She doesn’t really cast a spell over the cottage?” Judy asked mischievously.

Mr. Krumm’s normally florid face became even redder. He sucked in his breath, moistened his lips, and then launched into another vehement denial that anything was wrong with Calico Cottage.

“I’m sick of all this gossipy talk!” he ended his tirade. “I’m sick of losing tenants! I’m so weary of it, that I’m willing to pay good money to disprove all the contemptible stories.”

The Scouts remained respectfully silent.

“Bart has convinced you, I suppose, that you should move out,” Mr. Krumm went on. Without giving anyone an opportunity to deny the statement, he continued: “All right, suppose I admit that former tenants have complained about the cottage having strange noises at night? There must be an explanation for it—a logical, sensible one.”

“We’ll go along with you on that theory,” Miss Ward replied. “You have a proposition, Mr. Krumm?”

“Yes, I have. It’s all bunk about Calico Cave or the cottage having a ghost. If you’ll stay here for two weeks, and disprove the story, I’ll refund your rent payment. What d’you say?” Ardeth, Virginia and Judy gazed questioningly at their leader, awaiting her decision.

“We would prefer a rent refund with no strings attached,” the teacher suggested.

“Sorry, I can’t do that. After all, I’m not in business for my health. This cottage has been an expensive proposition. What do you say?”

“We’ll consider your offer,” Miss Ward said quietly. “We’ll remain for another night and make our decision after that. However, if we do make the test, it will not be for commercial reasons, but only to safeguard Judy’s aunt.”