Chapter 5 KITTY ARRIVES

What Dave had told her about the old Gates place in Rumson did not discourage Doris. If anything, it made her more eager to spend a few weeks at Locked Gates, for the thought of mystery was indeed very intriguing.

Unfortunately for her plans, she chanced to repeat to her uncle what Dave had said, and that worthy at once began to regard the proposed visit with misgiving.

"I'm not sure I should let you go," he told her doubtfully. "There's something funny about this whole affair. Don't you think you had better give up the trip?"

"Uncle Ward, you said I could go," Doris moaned. "Don't change your mind now. There probably isn't anything mysterious about the place anyway-Dave was just talking."

"I think I shall do a little investigating of my own," her uncle returned gravely.

He had already learned through a former business associate that the Misses Gates were well thought of in Rumson, but that of late years they had kept close to their own premises. Recalling that Jake had at one time worked in Rumson, Wardell Force sauntered out into the garden where he was weeding the flowers.

"Well, Jake," he began, "how are your posies doing?"

The hired man straightened and regarded Mr. Force with a delighted smile.

"First rate, sir," he answered. "First rate! Miss Doris's roses goin' to be in bloom inside of another week."

Jake's hobby was gardening, and he was never more satisfied than when at work with the flowers. The sun and wind had tanned his wrinkled face but it had brought a glow of health which had not been there when Wardell Force had first brought him to Chilton. At that time Jake had been broken in body and in spirit, but fresh air, good food and kindness had made a new man of him. His hair, which was streaked with gray, seldom was combed, and his garments usually bore the stamp of his work. He walked with a noticeable stoop.

Jake was a rather silent man and seldom spoke unless addressed. He kept to himself and when not working about the grounds usually stayed alone in his room. Seemingly, he lived only for the present, as he never mentioned the past and took the future for granted. Of his devotion to Wardell Force and Doris, there was not the slightest question.

"Jake, you used to work in Rumson before you came here, didn't you?" Mr. Force questioned.

"Yes, sir." Jake avoided the other's eyes. Any reference to his past usually caused him to withdraw into his shell, but with Wardell Force he was more free.

"Do you remember a Gates house there, Jake?"

"Yes, sir, I remember the place well. A gloomy house it was, sir. Many a night I had to pass it after dark, and it sort of gave me the creeps."

"I didn't think anything could give you the creeps," Mr. Force said with an understanding smile.

"Neither did I, sir, but that house-you never saw a soul enter or leave. Folks said the gates had rusted shut. But why are you askin', Mr. Force?"

"Doris was thinking of going there for a short visit."

Jake shook his head as he picked up the rake.

"I'm not aimin' to advise you, sir, but if 'twere me, I'd not let her go there alone."

"I think perhaps you are right, Jake," Wardell Force returned thoughtfully as he turned away. "I'll have another talk with Doris and see if I can't get her out of the notion of going."

Returning to the house, he found his niece in the den studying German. She put aside her book at once as he came over to her, but her face clouded at mention of the visit.

"I'll give it up if you're so worried, but I don't see any reason for not going. The Misses Gates are probably just two dear old ladies who like privacy, and the neighbors are inclined to gossip."

"I see you have set your heart upon going," Mr. Force sighed.

"Then you will let me go?"

"Upon one condition."

"And what is that?"

"That you get some one to go with you."

"I know just the person, Uncle Ward. Kitty Norris will be crazy to go!"

"You're both crazy to go," Mr. Force returned with a different inflection.

Doris, highly pleased at her latest idea, sprang up and rushed to the desk. It took her only a few minutes to compose a letter to her chum, and having finished it, she rushed off to the corner mail box, fearful lest her uncle change his mind again.

The next three days she waited in a tremor of excitement for a response. On the fourth day the postman brought the letter from Kitty. It was brief but very much to the point.

"Dear Dory:" it read. "Will I come? I'll jump at the chance! Here's to a high old time at Locked Gates, and may we discover when they were locked and why! Meet me Wednesday on the 4:40 train. Yours, Kitty."

It was already Monday and that left only two days before Kitty's arrival. Doris flew about putting the suite in order and spent a great deal of time getting her clothes ready to pack. The problem was made somewhat difficult due to the fact that she did not know what sort of reception awaited her.

"I don't know whether they'll give any parties or not," she told herself, "but my guess is they won't. I'll take a chance on it and leave my evening gown at home."

Late Wednesday afternoon, Doris and her uncle drove to the station to meet Kitty. She was nearly the last one off the train and Doris was beginning to think she had not come, when she caught sight of her in the crowd.

The girls exchanged enthusiastic hugs and fell to jabbering as excitedly as two magpies, or at least so it seemed to Uncle Ward, who was quite ignored until Doris recalled that she had failed to introduce him.

"I feel as though I know you already," he told Kitty with his genial smile. "Doris has talked about you almost continually."

He placed her suitcase in the back of the coupé, and the girls squeezed in beside him on the front seat. As they drove toward home, Doris told her chum more about Locked Gates and the reason why she had planned the trip.

Though not as pretty as Doris, Kitty had a charming personality and was one of the most popular girls at Barry Manor. She was very talkative and always ready for a good time. If she excelled in basketball and tennis rather than in French and English, it was not because of lack of ability, but rather because she could never find the time to study. At Barry Manor her room had always been the gathering place for friends and the scene of many tea parties.

"I'm so excited about this place we're going to," she told Doris. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow, if that isn't rushing you off too soon. Uncle Ward is going out of town to raise money for some charity-"

"A little hot air for a fresh air fund," Mr. Force interposed. "A speech at the Rotary Club, one at the church, and one at the Chamber of Commerce. That's the opening day's program and it will be about the same for the next month."

"Unless we leave for Locked Gates tomorrow, we'll be left here by ourselves," Doris explained.

"Let's go, by all means."

"I thought you would want to start right away. Dave said he would take us down in his roadster."

"We'll have a wonderful time, too!" Kitty declared enthusiastically.

Doris nodded in agreement. In spite of what Dave and Jake had said concerning Locked Gates, she little dreamed of the adventure that lay before her.

"I just hope we have a real interesting session at this place," continued Kitty gleefully, "something to tell the sorority about when we return to school in the fall. Just fancy the crowd gathered around us while we tell in a solemn voice the mysteries of Locked Gates. I really hope something exciting does happen to us, Dory," she exulted, as the roadster swung around the corner, throwing her little hat a bit more rakishly over one eye. "I'll be disappointed if it doesn't."

"Kitty, you are very brave just at present. Be sure to keep up your present demeanor as we go forth on our big adventure," admonished Doris Force thoughtfully.