The Secret of the Sundial / Madge Sterling Series, #3

An Initiation

On a certain evening in early September-Friday the thirteenth-to be exact, a stranger in Claymore, Michigan, might have been startled to behold two figures, grotesque in long white sheets which draped them from head to foot, scurrying along an alley leading to Summit Street. It was an appropriate night for ghosts to be abroad. The moon was in the dark and the wind whistled weirdly through the trees.

The two figures moved stealthily along the boxwood hedge which bordered the rear of the George Brady property. Presently, coming to an opening barely large enough to squeeze through, they paused, glancing hastily in all directions.

"The coast is clear!" one murmured in a low tone.

"Surely you don't expect me to crawl through that tiny hole!" came the indignant protest. "I'm not the bean-pole you are, Jane Allen. What's the sense of all this secrecy anyhow? Why can't we go in the main entrance?"

"I suppose you want everyone to see you!" the other retorted. "What's the use of having a secret society if it isn't secret?"

The second "ghost" silently acknowledged the weight of this argument and permitted herself to be pushed toward the opening in the hedge. Half way through, her sheet caught. In her efforts to free herself, it tore.

"Mother's best sheet!" she groaned. "Won't I catch it when I get home!"

"Hurry up!" the other urged with callous indifference to the fate which might await her friend. "We mustn't be late for the initiation."

They moved swiftly across the lawn, noting that the large white house was entirely dark. They paused at a side door and knocked three times.

Almost instantly the door opened and a third ghost confronted them.

"Everyone is here now except Cara Wayne," she informed, "and of course we don't want her until we're all ready for the initiation. Aunt Maude and Uncle George went to a bridge party tonight so we have the house to ourselves."

She led them through darkened halls to an attic "clubroom" where an oil lamp dimly burned.

"We may as well take off these hot sheets until Cara comes," she invited. "We can slip them on again when we hear her at the door."

By way of example, she tossed off her own disguise and stood revealed as Madge Sterling, president of the Skull and Crossbones, a most exclusive secret society. She was an attractive girl, vivacious and distinctly a leader. Her laughter was infectious; without half trying she had a way of drawing friends to her. Older people said she had "tact" but girls her own age liked her because she was known as a good sport. Madge's mother was dead, and since the disappearance of her father, she had made her home with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Brady.

The two newcomers were Jane Allen and Edna Raynard. Jane was homely and very outspoken; she made enemies easily yet was a loyal friend. She did not mind her straight black hair or somewhat muddy complexion. Her slender figure was often ridiculed, but she took it all in good fun. Edna was quite the opposite. She was pretty as a picture, plump, and had an inclination toward taking life exactly as she found it.

The other girl, Enid Burnett, was Madge's special chum. Largely through Madge's influence, she had been induced to come from another state to attend the Everetts School for Girls at Claymore. Her mother also was dead, and her father, a well-to-do collector and sportsman, permitted her an unusual amount of freedom. Notwithstanding, she was a quiet, unspoiled girl with a genuine liking for school and studies.

"Is everything all set for the initiation, Madge?" Jane inquired.

"Yes, Enid and I fixed up the basement this afternoon. We didn't dare let Aunt Maude know what we were about for fear she'd put a stop to it. Wait until Cara steps into the tub of water! We bought a nice big piece of quivery liver too that-"

She broke off as three loud knocks sounded from below, and made a dive for her sheet. The others scrambled into their costumes, preparing to follow her downstairs.

"Remember, girls, don't speak a word until Cara is brought up here," she warned in a whisper. "This initiation must be a very solemn affair."

"Have you thought up the main stunt?" Edna asked anxiously. "I tried to think up something but couldn't."

"Don't worry, I have a hair raiser!" Madge chuckled.

She led the procession down the stairs. The girls lined up on either side of the door and then Madge opened it to confront a very frightened little girl who awaited admittance in fear and trembling. She giggled nervously as Madge beckoned her to follow.

Cara Wayne was conducted by a devious route through the dark house to the basement stairs. Madge signified that she was to go down alone. Cara hesitated, sensing that some unpleasant ordeal awaited her below, but there was no escape. She went boldly down. Suddenly, the girls heard a little squeal of fright.

"She must have touched the liver," Enid whispered. "I hung it where she couldn't miss it."

Next there was a loud crash as Cara stepped into an empty packing box.

"I hope she doesn't miss the tub of water," Madge murmured anxiously.

Cara did not disappoint them. A minute later they heard a great splash and a howl of anguish. Since the water ordeal exhausted the possibilities of the basement, Enid was sent down to bring up the unhappy victim. Cara was drenched to the knees but she displayed a studied cheerfulness. They led her to the attic clubroom, seating themselves in a semi-circle about her.

"Cara Wayne, do you promise never to reveal anything which transpires here this night?" Madge asked in a deep, sepulchre-like voice.

There was a long silence and then Cara's quavering: "I do."

"And will you obey any command given you during the next week by any illustrious member of Skull and Crossbones?"

"I will," Cara promised, visions of many detested tasks passing before her eyes.

"And now, one last test of your courage remains to be made," Madge continued impressively. "It lacks twenty minutes of midnight. Exactly upon the hour you must go to the old boarded-up Swenster mansion, bringing back some token to prove that you have accomplished your mission."

For a minute Cara looked as though she intended to refuse, and in truth, the others could not have blamed her. The old Swenster mansion was several doors away, adjoining a grove of pine trees which at night was not the most pleasant place to pass. The Swenster grounds were surrounded by a high fence and hedge which hid the house from view of the street. The place had been closed for years.

"I don't know how I can get into the grounds," Cara protested.

"You can go in the back way," Madge informed, forgetting her pose and speaking in a natural voice. "It will take you some time to reach there, so you had better start now."

Cara looked very unhappy but she knew that to refuse might mean her dismissal from the organization to which she aspired. Reluctantly, she made her way down the dark stairs. The outside door closed behind her.

"That was an inspiration!" Enid praised after Cara had gone. "Madge, you have such clever ideas! I didn't think she'd do it, did you?"

"Cara's game," Madge laughed. "I'd not enjoy going to the Swenster mansion myself at this time of night."

"You couldn't hire me to go near there," Edna added feelingly. "I can just see poor Cara shaking in her boots. I wonder if she'll be able to get into the grounds."

"The gate at the rear is ajar," Madge returned. "I tested it this afternoon to find out."

For some minutes the girls laughed over the evening's fun. Shortly after midnight they began to expect Cara.

"I wish she'd hurry," Madge said. "Aunt Maude and Uncle George will be coming home soon and that will put an end to the initiation. She's had plenty of time to get back."

At fifteen minutes past midnight, the girls were a little alarmed. They cast off their cumbersome robes and went downstairs to watch for her.

"What can have happened?" Madge worried. "Perhaps we shouldn't have sent her alone."

"She's probably trying to worry us just to get even," Jane insisted.

"I think we'd better go to the Swenster mansion and see what is keeping her," Madge returned quietly. "Or if you like, I'll go alone. It was my idea in the first place-a bum one I'll admit."

"Wait!" Enid commanded. "I believe she's coming now."

They all turned to look and saw a figure fairly flying down the street toward the house. She hurled herself through the gate and raced across the yard. Before the girls could open the door, she flung herself against it, crying: "Let me in! Let me in!"

As they hurriedly admitted her, she stumbled against Madge, gripping her in a nervous embrace.

"Did you bring the token?" they asked her.

Cara laughed hysterically.

"No, I didn't bring it but I went to the Swenster mansion all right! And I don't care what you say-I'll not go back! Not even if it means staying out of the club. Nothing can make me go near that horrible place again!"