  Shortly after supper Barry Garrison left the house and crossed the grass in the direction of Kent’s home. But he was saved the trouble of a journey to his chum’s house by the appearance of Kent himself. He came dashing down the walk and joined Barry. “Going for a walk?” he hailed. “I’m going down to Sadler’s store and get my ice skates,” Barry replied. “I left them there to be sharpened. Thought you’d like to go along.” “Glad to,” nodded Kent, falling into step beside him. “I want to do some studying a little later, and, after the supper I ate, I felt the need for a brisk walk. I was going to drop in and see you for a second before going back to the midnight oil.” “I wanted to see you,” Barry informed him. “I’ve got quite an idea in my head for our winter vacation.” “What? A hunting trip?” “Yes, but not hunting animals. Hunting spooks!” “What?” Kent demanded. “What did you say?” “I said hunting spooks. Or ghosts or haunts or something. Think we could take a photograph of a rapping spook?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kent growled. “It all sounds goofy to me!” Barry laughed. “It did to me, when my father was telling me about it. Tune in to the proper station while I tell you something about it.” “I’m tuned in,” Kent said. “You’ll have to make it a good one, or it will all be static. Let’s hear it.” As the two of them walked slowly toward the business section of Cloverfield, Barry related the story which he had heard from his father. Kent’s light and scornful attitude vanished as he listened, and he soon became as deeply interested as Barry had been. Their steps became slower, and they no longer felt the coldness of the night air. They had arrived outside the brightly lighted window of the hardware store just as Barry finished, and they lingered a moment to discuss it. “That’s a first-class mystery,” Kent declared. “I’d like to go up there and snoop around some.” “That’s just what I had in mind,” Barry told him. “I talked about it with Dad at the supper table, and he wasn’t very keen about it at first, but finally he said it wouldn’t hurt anything for us to go up there and look around. He said he would try and get permission for us to camp in the Bronson cabin, which is in sight of the lodge. How does that strike you?” “Right on the bull’s-eye,” answered Kent, promptly. “We can hike up there in two days.” “We can skate up there in less time than that,” Barry said. “The Buffalo River runs into the lake about two miles below the cabin and the lodge, and we could go that way. Even if we don’t accomplish a thing toward solving the mystery, we will at least have a good vacation, taking in a skating trip and camping in a cabin.” “Sure thing! We’ve never camped in a cabin. Say, look who is in the hardware store.” Following the direction of Kent’s nod, Barry glanced through the glass, and his eyes rested on the form of a boy about their own age, who was examining a sleeping bag. This young man was well dressed and wore an expensive fur coat. On a counter near by a pile of camping equipment lay spread out. Barry recognized the boy at once. It was Carter Wolf, the one who had been detected stealing from the lockers at school. “Looks like Wolf is going somewhere,” he said. “Going to have a lot of duffle with him, too,” added Kent. “This is the first time we’ve seen him since our affair of the locker room. Let’s see if he greets us with politeness.” They entered the store. There was only one clerk in attendance, and he was busy with Carter Wolf. Just as they closed the door they heard Wolf purchase the sleeping bag. He saw the boys and flushed slightly, but contented himself with merely turning his back on them. “Anything else, Mr. Wolf?” the clerk asked. Wolf consulted a list which he held in his hand. “Just one thing more,” he answered. “I want a lantern.” The clerk quickly procured one from stock. “You’re buying a lot of stuff, Mr. Wolf,” he smiled. “Must be going on a camping trip somewhere.” Wolf raised his voice slightly. “I am. A bunch of us are going up to camp on Lake Arrowtip.” Barry and Kent exchanged glances and then looked frankly at the goods which Wolf had purchased. They were expensive things, and there was no doubt that the rich boy was planning a real winter camping trip. Fishing tackle and an ax for ice fishing, an old stove, a rifle and several boxes of shotgun shells, a hunting coat and cap, two pairs of boots, the sleeping bags for two other members of his party, and a handsome hunting knife. He gave directions for having the goods sent to his home and then left the store, ignoring the presence of the boys. “Wonder whom he is going camping with?” Kent asked, as they waited for the ice skates to be wrapped up. “He goes with a crowd of fellows from Harrison,” Barry said. “Probably they are the ones who will go. He evidently intends to be right in our territory, so we’ll have to make room for one another. I don’t like him well enough to want to be very near him or his crowd.” “I don’t, either,” Kent agreed. “He could be a nice fellow if he tried hard, but it is easier to be the other way. Trouble with him is, his daddy has always spoiled him. Well, we’ll be in a cabin, so we’ll probably not conflict with one another.” They left the store and walked toward home, still discussing the thing nearest their minds. Close to Barry’s house they met the twins, who were just striding along under a lamplight. “We’ll have some news for them that will open their eyes,” Kent chuckled. The twins bore down on them. “Here you are!” Mac cried. “Tell us all about the trip to Arrowtip Lake!” “Yes,” chimed in Tim. “When do we go up to the haunted lodge and get busy?” |
|
