Frank Merriwells Pursuit | Page 8

pins, Mrs.
Medford had made some very ghostly garments for the girls, fitting
them with a skill which partly revealed and partly concealed the
graceful outlines of the wearers. Eyelets had been cut, and the general
effect was indeed striking.

"But the skeletons we saw?" questioned Frank.
"A little phosphorus produced them," explained Mrs. Medford. "I drew
the skeleton outlines on the sheets with phosphorus. Of course they'll
be visible only in the dark."
"Mrs. Medford, you're a wonder!" declared Hodge. "Now we're all
right. There'll be ghosts abroad in the Adirondacks to-night."
After a general inspection of their costumes, the party prepared to start.
"Almost wish I had decided to go," confessed Browning. "But I'll stay
here and take care of Mrs. Medford."
"If you wish to go, I can take care of her," assured Warren Hatch.
"It's too late now," said Bruce quickly. "Besides that, it's quite a walk
over there, and I'd get tired of dancing in short order. I'll stay here and
rest."
They paused a moment on the veranda. The night was very still, and
the moon was just rising above the treetops, silvering the mirror-like
surface of the lake.
From far away on the southern shore came the sound of music and they
could see the gleaming lights.
"Take care of those girls, boys," called Mrs. Medford. "If anything
happens to them I'll never forgive myself for letting them out of my
sight."
"Don't worry," advised Frank. "You may rest assured that they are quite
safe in our care. We'll guard them with our lives, but there is no
possibility of danger to-night."
Little he knew what would happen before the night passed.
CHAPTER V.

THE WOLVES.
The pavilion was brilliantly lighted. Hundreds of Chinese lanterns were
suspended from the beams and cross timbers. The musicians were
hidden by an arbor of green at one end of the floor. The floor itself
swarmed with dancers wearing all sorts of grotesque and beautiful
costumes.
Amid the whirling throng two ghosts were waltzing, the partner of one
being a cowboy, while the right arm of a redskin encircled the waist of
the other.
The waltzing of these couples was the poetry of grace and motion.
They seemed to glide over the floor without effort of any sort. The ease
of their movements was admired by many.
"Isn't it delightful, Frank?" enthusiastically whispered one of the ghosts;
and her cowboy partner answered:
"It's all the more delightful being unexpected and unplanned, Inza. I
feel to-night as if I hadn't a care in the world."
"Why have you any great cares to worry you now?" she asked. "All
your great business projects are coming out right, and the man who
could make you trouble has paid the penalty of his villainy. He'll never
interfere with you again."
"That's right. With him out of the way, his railroad plan and mining and
development company will never mature."
"I see no reason why you should hurry back to Mexico now. Can't you
remain in the East longer?"
"I'll know better about that after consulting with Watson Scott. If
possible to linger, I'll be in no hurry to go."
They swept past a solitary man who stood watching the dancers. His
mask was the head of a wolf. Through the twin holes of the mask his

eyes gleamed strangely as they followed Merry and Inza.
Another wolf approached and touched the first on the shoulder.
"Have you found him yet?"
"Look!" exclaimed the first. "See the girl in flowing white?"
"With the Indian?"
"No; with the cowboy."
"I have noticed both."
"Well, it is the cowboy I want you to watch. Listen near him. Hear him
speak. I think it is our man. If so--well, to-night I strike the blow that
makes me the master!"
"Your head----"
"Never mind. I have taken pains to hide well anything that might betray
me. The dead seldom rise, and I am dead, you know."
"It's the greatest wonder in the world that you are not."
The music stopped. Frank escorted Inza to one of the great, open
windows, through which came a grateful breath of the cool, still night.
Through the trees outside they could see the lake, with the silver
moonlight shimmering on its bosom.
"It's a beautiful spot here," said the girl. "See how peaceful everything
is out there, Frank."
After a few moments they strolled out together beneath the trees, where
the shadows were heavy. Arm in arm, they walked up and down,
pausing at intervals to listen to the music which came from the pavilion,
where the dancers were again whirling over the polished floor.
Suddenly they came face to face with a silent figure beneath the trees.

This figure started back, uttering a low exclamation, turned suddenly,
and almost fled round a corner