when she got here she liked it."

"Yes, and I like her--strange as you may think it!" declared Phyllis.
"I've quite changed my mind about her. Do you know, I think that girl is
having a whole lot of trouble, somehow or other--trouble she can't tell
us about. What the mystery is and how it is connected with that cottage,
I don't see. But I do believe that she likes _us_, and if we're ever
going to solve this mystery at all, it will probably be through her."

"Shall we--do you think we ought to--give her the Dragon's Secret?"
faltered Leslie.

"I certainly do _not_--at least not yet! I'll wait till I know a few
things more before I make a move like that!" declared the emphatic
Phyllis. "And now come along and let's have our swim."

CHAPTER XII

THE CURIOUS BEHAVIOR OF TED

True to their previous arrangement, Phyllis spent the night with Leslie
at Rest Haven. They read together till a very late hour and then sat up
even later, in the dark, watching from Leslie's window to see if there
were any further developments at Curlew's Nest. But nothing unusual
happened.

"Isn't that exactly my luck!" complained Phyllis. "If I weren't here, I
suppose there'd be a half a dozen spooky visitors!"

"Oh, no!" laughed Leslie. "Probably nothing will happen again for some
time. Remember how very few times it _has_ happened, anyway. But it is
provoking--just when we're all ready for it!"

"Do you know," exclaimed Phyllis suddenly, "this is the time when I'd
just love to go through that place again! What do you say if we get out
of this window and try it?"

"Oh, no, no!" cried Leslie. "You mustn't think of such a thing! Can't you
see how awfully dangerous it would be? Just suppose some one should take
it into their heads to visit the place again to-night--and find us in
there. It would be a terrible position for us!"

"I wouldn't be afraid of Eileen!" stoutly declared Phyllis. "I'd rather
enjoy meeting her there. It would give her something to explain!"

"But there's some one else you might meet there who might not be so
amusing--the man with the limp!" Leslie reminded her.

Phyllis had to acknowledge that this was so, and the subject was dropped,
much to Leslie's relief.

Next afternoon, Eileen came over with her car and invited the girls and
Miss Marcia to go for a long ride. They all accepted with alacrity,
enjoying the prospect of a change. Eileen insisted tha