believe -"
"Really, sir," interposed Furbison. "I meant no ill. I hope that I have
not disturbed you -"
"Mr. Gilden is joking," interrupted Jane, the younger of the sisters. "He
is merely having fun at your expense, Furbison. We know that you don't believe
in ghosts."
"Quite right, miss," nodded Furbison, relieved. "I was merely repeating
the remarks that had been told me."
"We understand," smiled Jane; "and it was my fault, Furbison, for starting
the talk. I am sorry. You may go now, Furbison."
"Thank you, miss."
Furbison departed. Jane turned to Gilden.
"Really, Pierce," declared the girl, "this matter is becoming quite
serious. All the domestics believe that there is a Gray Ghost."
"And they hold him responsible for recent robberies?"
"Yes. It may seem outlandish; nevertheless, the robberies have occurred."
It was Louise who added the next remark.
"The robberies have been alarming," declared the elder sister. "Somehow,
they don't seem to be the work of an ordinary human."
Gilden nodded.
"I know," he said. "Mrs. Tyndale's pearls, for instance."
"Yes," agreed Louise. "She is positive that none of the servants knew
where they were hidden. Yet they were stolen, and there was talk that the Gray
Ghost was seen that night."
"And the Trelawney paintings," added Jane. "They were spirited away in the
middle of the night!"
"From an empty house," objected Gilden. "That was not remarkable."
"There were two caretakers, Pierce."
"Both were probably asleep. They didn't talk about the Gray Ghost, did
they?"
"No. But others did, according to Furbison -"
Jane stopped as two elderly men appeared at the door of the sun porch.
Gilden and Reeth arose. Jane smiled and spoke to the first of the two who
entered.
"Hello, father," said the girl. "You know Pierce Gilden. And this is Alan
Reeth."
Martin Debrossler shook hands with the young men. He introduced the man
who was with him as James Pennybrook, his attorney. While they were chatting, a
horn honked from the front of the house. It was Debrossler's limousine, ready to
take the young people into the city. The four went from the sun porch, leaving
Debrossler and Pennybrook alone.
"More talk about the Gray Ghost," remarked Debrossler, as he and
Pennybrook heard the car pull away with its merry party. "The girls love to
bait Furbison."
"Your butler believes that there is a ghost?"
"I think he does. It annoys me, Pennybrook."
"Why should it?"
"Because Furbison has more sense than an ordinary servant. He should not
