answer. "How much do you want for your money? Isn't a fire and a
volunteer fireman's comedy enough?"
"But I am dreadfully keen on spooks," she was pinching Jane's arm
cruelly, "and I thought it was--something weird that set off the
original alarm."
Sally winced. "Here is a nice big bed," she told them nervously,
pushing back a door and disclosing a tranquil untrammelled room, all
neat and orderly as if nothing unusual had happened in old Lenox.
"We call it the guest room but rarely have company to occupy it. I
am sure Miss Gifford will want you two juniors to make yourselves at
home in it," finished Sally with a quaver. She could not entirely
hide the fact of her anxiety to get Jane and Dozia behind a closed
door. Jane might have understood but Dozia was perplexed.
"It's a lovely room," faltered Dozia, "but I feel more like camping
out. What time is it, anyhow?"
"About two-thirty A. M.," said Jane, "and since the youngsters are
safely tucked in, I believe we should take Sally's advice. This is
quite sumptious," folding down the extra white shams and coverlet.
"Rather a pity to spoil it for such a sliver of sleep."
Miss Gifford was at the door when Sally glided off. "I am so glad
Book 03 Leviticus
001:001 Yahweh called to Moses, and spoke to him out of the Tent
of Meeting, saying,
001:002 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'When anyone
of you offers an offering to Yahweh, you shall offer your
offering of the livestock, from the herd and from the flock.
001:003 "'If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall
offer a male without blemish. He shall offer it at the door
of the Tent of Meeting, that he may be accepted before Yahweh.
001:004 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering,
and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
001:005 He shall kill the bull before Yahweh. Aaron's sons, the priests,
shall present the blood and sprinkle the blood around on
the altar that is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
001:006 He shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into pieces.
001:007 The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar,
and lay wood in order on the fire;
001:008 and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, the head,
and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire which is
on the altar;
001:009 but its innards and its legs he shall wash with water.
you girls are getting to bed," she commended. "What a night we have
had? And what a mercy you happened to be within call? I'm sure I
don't know how you got here but I am not worrying about the details.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil, etc., and"--with a readjustment
of her glasses and a closer fold into the soft night shawl--"this
condition is dreadful. I have tried to fathom the mystery without
troubling the office, but I know now I should have reported it
before." (She referred to the nocturnal disturbances, of course.)
"Don't fear any further alarm, midnight is always the chosen hour."
"Yes," blurted Dozia, "we know about it, Miss Gifford, and my friend
Jane inveigled me into this midnight raid. That is really how we got
over here, but I can't say we have to report progress--'stampede'
would be more accurate."
"But this is only one night," Jane insisted, "and our fire brigade
spoiled every possibility of investigation. But, Miss Gifford, since
we have undertaken the task, I should like to propose that you give
us an opportunity to try our skill at it. Suppose" (Jane had in mind
the tearful face of little Sally) "you give us one more night before
you turn the alarm in to Miss Rutledge? I am sure we can control
your girls and get them to agree to our plan. In spite of
everything, you know, they just adore the fun and sensation of it
all."
"Well," faltered Miss Gifford, weakening, "of course I could not