"Thar or tharabouts," agreed Tracy, smiling at the pretty child. "And Mr. Tracy is the delightfullest man! He told me all the names of the wild flowers,--weeds, rather,--there weren't any flowers. And oh, _isn't_ it exciting about Eve's ghost! I'm going to ballyrag Uncle Gif till he lets me sleep in that room. He'll _have_ to give in at last!" "Don't, Vernie," begged Braye. "What possesses all you girls! I wish we'd never started this racket! But you mustn't do it, Kiddie, unless, that is, you go with somebody else. But not alone." "Why, Cousin Rudolph, what are you afraid of? Are you a mollycoddle?" "No, child, I'm afraid for you. A shock like that, even an imaginary fright, might upset your reason and----" "Fiddle-de-dee! my reason is deeper rooted than that! Come on, Mr. Tracy, I'll race you to that big hemlock tree!" The two started off, Vernie's flying legs gaining ground at first, over Tracy's steady well-trained running step. CHAPTER VI At Four o'Clock The game grew more absorbing. Most of the party managed to store up enough courage by day to last well into the darker and more mysterious hours. It was at four in the morning that manifestations were oftenest noticed. At that hour vague moanings and rustlings were reported by one or another of the interested investigators, but no human agency was found to account for these. Many plans were tried for discovering the secret of the Room with the Tassels, but all scrutiny failed to show any secret panel or concealed entrance. Indeed, their measurings and soundings proved there could not possibly be any entrance to that room save the door from the hall. Eve and Norma believed thoroughly in the actual haunt of the woman who had poisoned her husband. They had no difficulty in swallowing whole all the strange noises or sights and attributing them to supernatural causes. Not so Gifford Bruce. He still held that it was all trickery, cleverly done by some of the party, but as this was so clearly impossible, his opinion carried no weight. Professor Hardwick was open-minded, but exceedingly alert of observation and ready to suspect anybody who would give him the slightest reason to do so. Nobody did, however, and the weird sounds continued at intervals. The other men were noncommittal, saying they hadn't yet sufficient data to base conclusions on. Milly was nervous and hysterical, but controlled her feelings at Landon's plea, and awaited developments with the rest. Vernie was merely an excited child, gay with youthful spirits and ready to believe or disbelieve whatever the others did.