human
I'm ready to tell my little story, boys, he remarked.
gpt
It isn't such a wonderful one, after all, but Hugh agreed with me that it might give some of us an excuse for coming up this way. And my aunt had supplied all the necessary funds covering our railroad fare from Oakvale to the little station where we jumped off the local train---Scarsdale.
human
Which aunt, Alec?
gpt
Oh! none of you ever met _this_ relative of mine, I guess, considered Alec.
human
Aunt Susan is a very rich woman, and what you might call eccentric if you wanted to be particularly nice, and not use a harsher word. In fact, her nerves have gone back on her, and every little noise about sets her _wild_. She has taken a notion that the only salvation for her is to find some sort of a quiet country home in which her servants can glide around in felt slippers, with never a rooster's crow to disturb the dead silence.
gpt
Whew! you must mean she's a regular crank, Alec---excuse me for saying it!
human
Well, forget that part of it, resumed Alec, making a wry face.
gpt
Aunt Susan is peculiar, and immensely wealthy, so that money needn't stand in the way of her doing anything she fancies. In some way or other it seems she heard about a queer place away up here in the woods. It is known as Randall's Folly!
human
Why, seems to me I've heard something about that place! burst out Arthur Cameron, in a surprised tone.
gpt
Isn't it a modern castle built by a man years ago and meant to look like some British place in the days of Queen Elizabeth?
human
Just what it is, Arthur,
gpt
Let's see, pursued the other, uneasily,
human
Whew! and are we heading for that beautiful spot as fast as we can hike along?
gpt
My aunt wrote to my mother that she wanted some one to come up here and investigate, so she could have a full description before going any further into the deal for the property. Not that Aunt Susan bothered a bit about the ghost part of it, but she wanted to know whether the building was a ramshackle affair, or part-way decent. In fact, she asked for photographs of the place inside and out, and even requested that, if I could be induced to take the trip, along with some of those wonderfully bright chums of mine of whom she had been hearing such great stories, I was to buy the best camera that fifty dollars could command, and use the balance of the hundred for other expenses. So here we are close to Randall's Folly, with Saturday ahead of us for business, and meaning to go back home Sunday afternoon.
human
Which lovely programme must include two nights spent under the roof of a haunted house!
gpt
For my part, spoke up Arthur Cameron,
human
Same here,
gpt
As for me, the scout master remarked,
human
I considered it a fine chance for a little excitement. I, too, had heard some stories about this gloomy make-believe castle that had been built in the lonely woods by old Judge Randall when he married a young wife, and wanted to carry her away from the rest of the world. They say it's getting to be an interesting ruin by now, though perhaps Alec's aunt might choose to patch the crumbling walls up, if other things suited her.
gpt
Huh! takes all sorts of freaks to make this world, grunted Billy.
human
The idea of anybody actually wanting to bury themselves away up here, and never see a thing in the way of circus, baseball, winter hockey, Boy Scout rivalries and other good happenings. The old Judge must have been crazy.
gpt
Well, lots of people suspected it when he started to build this castle, said Alec, drily.
human
They felt dead sure after it happened; for hold your breath now, fellows, because to be honest with you there was a terrible tragedy, and after the poor young wife was buried the judge lived as much as ten years in an asylum. He had become a maniac, you see, from jealousy of his beautiful wife.
gpt
I suppose it's all right, since there are four other fellows along, Billy finally went on to say,
human
The walking is good down to the station, Billy, murmured Alec,
gpt
That'll be enough for you, Alec, continued the fat boy, with a certain amount of dignity.
human
You never knew me to show the white feather, and back down, once I put my shoulder to the wheel. If the rest can stand it I ought to be able to do so.
gpt
Good for you, Billy, cried Hugh.
human
Alec here ought to make you an apology. But since we've rested up, and there's still half a mile to tramp, with the afternoon wearing on, suppose we make a fresh start.