Mrs. Irving had refused absolutely to let any of the girls even so much as
help with this lunch, saying they must stay outside and visit with the
boys on this momentous occasion.

"Since you are convinced that this thing is not a ghost," Will went on,
while appetizing odors began to waft toward them from the open kitchen
windows, "we will take it for granted that it is a man, and a man who has,
presumably, lost his mind."

"A crazy man," murmured Betty. "Worse and worse--and more of it."

"Girls," cried Amy, jumping suddenly to her feet, "I have an idea."

"Impossible!" drawled Grace.

"Why," went on Amy, unheeding Grace's remark and growing visibly more
excited as she talked, "you know, Professor Dempsey went crazy--or at
least we supposed he did--and ran away into the woods. Now since Will
thinks this man is crazy too, why, they may be one and the same--"

"Amy!" cried Mollie, her eyes beginning to shine as she realized the
possibility of what the girl had said. "You are a wonder, child! Why
didn't any of us think of that before?"

"Because it is rather far-fetched and absurd, I suppose," said Grace, the
suggestion of a sneer in her voice bringing a quick flush to Amy's face.

"I don't see that it is so far-fetched--or absurd either," Betty broke in
quietly. "Remember, we are only a little over fifty miles from the place