The Phantom Treasure

room, she paused, her hand on the knob, for this room had more protection than the old-fash

ld hear the sounds of laughter from where her young friends were. She must hurry. She ran back to her windows, put them down and loc

thinking of one of Jan's expressions. "Now if an

ting black horse, was leading the animal intended for Jannet and cantered toward her, stopping at a high block. He started to dismount to help Jannet, but

been under the trunk instead of being scratched up a little

s almost crazy till you came in after it was all over. I was s

I thought that Uncle Pie

that he went a little lame. Lucy is all right, only a little more s

like Lucy be

away from hampering conditions of the city was what she called to Nell "real riding," instead of "riding lessons."

supper with us at home to-night, after ou

But Jan, shan't we take s

t that. Good thing that you spoke of it." Jan turned his horse

ver. Her solemn eyes surveyed the riders with no display of interest and her stolid face was without a smile. A small shawl decorated her shoul

ve the neat package to Jan, with something for tying it to his

on't be a calamity howler. We'll get under a rock some

s, the stony features almost relaxed into a smile, so Jannet thought. "Be careful," Paulina said. "An owl ho

ean, 'over her head

Nell. I heard 'em, t

shoulder. "We have no rats," said she, "and rats do

house. Jannet fancied that Jan did not like to have Paulina's superstitions aired

leaned over to Jannet. "Paulina is an old goose," said he in a low tone. "

Jannet about it before now. Boys must be odd crea

ghed Nell, as she drew her horse beside

w it if I saw it," replied Jann

th you some time, Jannet, and per

can tell you, and I'll love to have you any time. I suppos

and I'd better not be

n be arranged and I'm glad that you thought of

part of the Van Meter place, though Chick is there so much whe

now, just coming. The only place where I feel that I have a real right is in my mother's room.

lly and had beaten her out of a lot of property that she ought to have had. I don't suppose

p. Why should he send for me?" This from Ja

," laugh

I'll not believe yet that he is dishonest. I'm going to stand up for my people, Nell, now that I have fou

n't k

Uncle Pieter for finding me," s

ne for her in sending for her. She had her own doubts, particularly since finding her mother's dia

anatory talk with her so far, though she realized that the spring work on the large place was engaging his attention. He was out of the house most of the time either upon

d chaperon. She was not demonstrative, but then, Jannet was not used to demonstrative affection. Paulina was the "funniest." She w

boys. Nell had been seized with a great admiration for the graceful, golden-haired Jannet and had already confided her dreams to her as she had not done to any of the other girl

ome in her desk brought her spirits to a high pitch. P'lina must certainly be mistaken, for there was scarcely a cloud. Lucy behaved with great decorum

n. Jannet laughed as she watched Chick, for with a boy's nonsense, he spread out his elbows at a ridiculous angle, leaned forward in his saddle, lett

was familiar also with Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow, rem

ll's more practiced eye measured the two packages. "Don't you worry,"

ong the pines. Here and there a little stream with its trickling waters helped to make the beauty of the way. Ja

rse called Juniper that threw her once and pretty nearly ended her

t gradually, just the sort of little everyday things that you would like

chers that wants to know when certain birds come here. We're going to hitch the horses here, or let them graze a litt

s?" Jannet

rocks that it will not be damp. Mother warned me not to have t

had seen a chickadee, a tufted titmouse, a song sparrow, a purple finch and a woodcock. Th

except in a very general way in their summer curriculum of good times. Her mind was far away from ghosts and problems of all sorts while the picn

ncoats. But then they noticed that it looked very black in one portion of the sky. "We'd better get

country. Distant thunder began to be heard, and clouds collected thickly. The girls said nothing, but they did not enjoy the pr

k told her that he and Jan thought it best to strike off from the main road a

's better than being soaked, or s

hed. "Are

t it isn't es

de road would permit. Puddles and mud-holes had to be avoided. The birds were taking to cover as well as they. Chick pointed ahead

under an open shed. The bombardment had begun. One sharp flash succeeded another and the crashes of thunder were of terrific v

d his own. "Get off your horse, Jannet," said h

as she dismounted. Jan reached his hand to Lucy's bridle while Jannet and Nell w

, a sharp chin and piercing black eyes the most noticeable features under an old-fashioned cap. A red and black shoulder shawl, something like that which Paulina often wore, was pinned about the rounding shoulders. A long, blue calico dr

Nell, the noise of the rain makin

fe. They are odd people, and they say that this old lady is half Indian and hal

bac

Chick, who had overheard. "The wo

dies,' not the 'sporting class.' A girl who tried out smoking in our school would get sen

it?" laughin

the rule is against smoking. It does say, though, that youn

's beckoning to us

h change, Chick," said Jan. "The poor old woman sees a chance to make a

't know what else, in there,-but all right, if you boys want to. A fire wou

ake any objection, she thought. She would do what the rest did, t

g, puddly grass and ground to the little stoop of the house. A plump woman of past middle age had come to the door by this ti

the worst storms we've had yet. I'll hang up your raincoats in the kitchen and

ing on to explain about their picnic and inquiring about t

th her fingers, to indicate that the old lady's mind was not just what it should be, but answered cheerfully, "Oh, Grandma is

something to-morrow," said kindly Ne

kindly, helpful feeling that exists in many such neighborhoods. She stood at on

?" bluntly aske

Eldon, who has come to live with her uncle Pieter

at was the name of the girl,-s

e old lady and looking at her with

ook like her. I told her fortu

id so. "Thank you, I don't believe that I want to have yo

en. I'll not hurt you. If I read anything

o the rescue of the situation. It certainly could do no harm to satisfy the old woman. "Well, maybe it wou

id, had been filling the room with a disagreeable smoke. "Sit down," she said. Jannet drew up a small wooden stool and held out her hand. Jan, with noble promptness, lai

you were dead," she mumbled. Jannet did not know whether this wer

guess at, Nell said afterward. Then she took up Jannet's character, cleverly setting for

you a good line,

interrupting he

If you are found, it will bring you good luck. You have had a loss, but you will find what you look for

will live to marry, perhaps twice. That is not clear. I see a long life and much happiness. Yo

t's hand. "I never told your fortune, J

Jan, as if that were a sign of great

etty well dried out by the heat from the fireplace. The storm had ceased before the aged grandmother had finished. Rapidly the four covered the distance remaining between this place and that of the Clydes, where they

tter wear one of your mother's, or else ride on home. But if

p some way, Jann

y said Jan, "may I be

d Jannet, a grin beginning

according to the old gypsy. Of course, I'll probably marr

application,' as Miss Hilliard says. But I'm only going to marry somebody very wonderfu

" said Nell, "that I'v

't me. Honestly, Jannet, she read you a pretty good fortune; but some of it was queer. Of course,

soul! Are you really going to take her something to-mor

to tones, as if representing Jann

Then, grinning again, she said, "Grandma Meer is too old to reform, Jan. Besides, if it isn't wick

The four sauntered along in the highest of spirits, though it was almost to

was in prospect when by the telephone it was arranged for Jannet and Jan to stay all nigh

d that we have not had him more this time. You and Nell ought to have gr

cated the results of her telephoning to the rest. "Oh, we can stay, and Cousin Di was too cordial for words about your comin

"Let's hope that t

n,-not really,