“Get back!” Dave shouted, helping the policemen and some mechanics to control the throng. Nearly everyone goodnaturedly backed away from the monoplane, but one man refused to budge. “That plane nearly struck my car!” he shouted angrily. “Let me get at that pilot! I’ll show him a thing or two!” Startled, Doris turned to look at the man and was astonished to see that it was the driver who had been stalled in front of the Mallow residence only a few days before. “Say, who does that fellow think he is, anyway?” Dave murmured impatiently. “His old car wasn’t touched! If that pilot hadn’t done some quick thinking, someone would have been killed sure!” They watched as a policeman remonstrated with him, and were disgusted at his sullen remarks. After he had vented his spite sufficiently, he sprang into his roadster and backed out of the parking place so rapidly that women and children were forced to scurry to escape the wheels. “He didn’t care much whether he struck anyone or not!” Doris declared. “That man is positively vicious.” After the excitement had died down, she and Dave went to their own roadster. There was a bad traffic jam and it was some time before they reached the gate. “It certainly was a thrilling day,” Doris told her friend when they were on the highway. “I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.” “Glad you liked it,” Dave returned. “Next year I hope to take part myself.” “The best part of it was that no one was injured,” Doris continued. “It would have ruined the entire meet if there had been a serious accident there at the last.” They drove along in silence for some time, but as they approached the Mallow residence, she broached the subject which had been troubling her. “Dave, you’ve frequently been to Rumson, haven’t you?” she began indirectly. “Sure, why?” “I’ve been invited to visit there this summer. Do you think I’d like it?” “Well, it’s a pretty decent town for its size. Whom are you visiting?” “Two sisters by the name of Gates. Azalea and Iris Gates. Did you ever hear of them?” “Gates? Let me think. Oh, sure, I remember their place. It’s right at the edge of town.” “What kind of a house have they?” “Oh, it’s as big as a barn. Old and rambling. It seems to be a sort of mysterious place.” “Mysterious?” “I don’t know anything about it myself, except that I’ve heard folks say there is something queer about it. The neighbors call it ‘Locked Gates.’” “Why that name?” “I suppose it’s because the double front gates are always kept locked. A fence surrounds the garden, and vines grow so thick on it you can’t get a glimpse inside. Take my advice, Doris, and don’t go there for a visit. It would give you the creeps!” CHAPTER V KITTY ARRIVES What Dave had told her about the old Gates place in Rumson did not discourage Doris. If anything, it made her more eager to spend a few weeks at Locked Gates, for the thought of mystery was indeed very intriguing.