"We--we thought you were a ghost!" murmured Terry.
"The ghost of Patience Howe, on account of the red," explained Arden.
"Oh--Patience Howe--I see--her as is supposed to have been around Sycamore Hall in the Revolution and hid her horse from the soldiers. Yes, that's a story around here, but I don't know--ghosts--no such animals if you ask me!" He laughed heartily.
"I suppose you have heard," suggested Arden, "that the ghost of Patience, in her red cloak, is said to wander around the old Hall at times."
"Oh, yes, I've heard that story, but nobody I know ever saw any ghost like that. Though, now you speak of it, I did hear that the contractor who's tearing down the Hall has been having trouble with his men on account of queer happenings. But I don't take any stock in 'em. Just rantings of the Negro and Italian laborers, I reckon."
"Some queer things have happened there," said Arden. "But now what are we going to do? I must get Terry home as soon as possible--a doctor must look at her ankle at once!"
"I know--sprained ankles can kick up quite a fuss. But as I'm sort of to blame for this, I'll do my best to remedy the trouble. I shouldn't have kept you here so long talking, by golly! I've got my flivver parked over near where I was rehearsing. I can run it here--no trouble at all--my flivver'll go up the side of a barn. And we'll put your friend in and I'll run her home in a jiffy, if you want me to."
"I think that will be the best thing to do," said Arden. "We have a friend in Sycamore Hall----"
"You have!" cried Mr. Henshot. "Why, I was told Granny Howe couldn't prove title to the place and she had to get out and it's being torn down."
"That's right," Arden assented. "But the friend I speak of is just in there temporarily, looking for ghosts."
"My stars!" exclaimed Santa Claus. "Well, I'll go get my flivver. Be back right quick. Don't let her step on her ankle. I'm mighty, mighty sorry this happened!"
He ran away with surprising speed for such an elderly man, his white beard flying in the wind, and almost before Arden could shift Terry to a little easier position on her shoulder Mr. Henshot was back with his creaking roadster.
To Arden's surprise he still wore his Santa Claus suit.