"I'd love to catch the thief, lock him up in a closet, send for Chief Baldwin and have him arrested. That would end the mystery of the queen's fan."
"And that's what I call romantic bunkum," laughed Auntie Gibbs. "You'll all go to bed tonight and get your rest! Uncle Nat will hide the fan so no one will get it."
At which there was a loud protest from all the girls. They had no intention of being cheated out of any of the thrilling romance of the fan.
Bet was tucked into bed with all the tenderness that one bestows on a small child and was made to promise, hand on heart, that she would not step outside her room for any reason whatever, unless one of the girls was with her.
Shirley had no difficulty in keeping awake until two o'clock but she did have trouble in keeping Joy's eyes open.
"I'd let you sleep, honey, only I gave Bet my solemn promise that we'd _both_ stay awake."
"It's all right, Shirley. Just give me a dig if I nod. I won't mind. We've got to help Bet!" Joy yawned and stretched.
But it did seem a long time to Joy before Shirley said, "Time's up!" and together they crossed the hall to waken Bet and Kit. They had been sitting just inside the door of their room where they could watch up and down the hall. Nothing disturbing had happened.
"Time to get up? Why it just seems as if we'd been asleep a second!" laughed Kit.
"That's your bad luck, then," exclaimed Joy, "for my watch says it's after two."
Bet and Kit jumped out of bed, and Bet put her hand on the fan and patted it.
"It's still safe, girls! I don't think we'll be disturbed tonight."
"Listen to her, Shirley!" yawned Joy. "She's going to say that we can all go to sleep now that it's her turn to guard the fan."
"Indeed I'm _not_! I have no intention of leaving the fan unguarded. You forget that I'm on my honor to get this into the safety box on Monday!"
"Next watch is from half past two to half past six! Run along and get to sleep!" ordered Kit. "We'll guard the treasure with our lives."
Shirley and Joy made a dash for their own room, but gave a shriek as they reached the door. A figure clad in ghostly white was gliding down the long hallway.
Bet leaped into action at once. "Here girls, stand by me! Now remember, if they kidnap me, they will have to take all four."