“Hardly,” replied Anne.  “She and Elfreda are not friendly, and Elfreda could not be coaxed to go where she is likely to see Miss Gaines.”

“But suppose Virginia Gaines kept strictly in the background, yet helped to play the trick,” persisted Grace.

“Of course she could easily do that,” admitted Anne.  “But what makes you think she would?”

“Just this,” replied Grace.  “I saw her in conversation to-day with Mary Hampton.  They were standing outside Science Hall.  They didn’t see me until I was within a few feet of them.  Then they said good-bye in a hurry, and rushed off in opposite directions.  Now, what would you naturally infer from that?”

“It does look suspicious,” agreed Anne.

“That is what causes me to believe Virginia Gaines to be one of the prime movers in this affair,” was the quiet answer.  “They are all very clever.  Too clever, by far, for me.”

A knock at the door caused Grace to start slightly.  “Come in!” she called, then exclaimed in surprise as the door opened:  “Why, Miriam, where did you go?  You disappeared the moment dinner was over.”

“I had to go to the library,” replied Miriam quickly.  “Do you know whether the girls on both sides of us are out?”

Grace nodded.  “What’s the matter, Miriam?” she asked curiously.  “What has happened?  You look as mysterious as the Three Fates themselves.”

“I’ve made a discovery,” announced Miriam, taking a book from under her arm and opening it.  “I found something in this book that you ought to see.  I was in one of the alcoves to-night looking for a book that I have been trying to lay hands on for a week.  It has been out every time.  To-night I found it and inside the leaves I found this.”  She handed Grace a folded paper.

Grace unfolded it wonderingly and began to read aloud: 

“Dear Virginia: 

“We decided that the haunted house plan would be quite likely to subdue a certain obstreperous individual.  We have already invited her to a moonlight party at Hunter’s Rock, as you know.  Once she is there we will see to the rest.  Sorry you can’t be with us, but that would give the whole plan away.  A little meditation in spookland will do our friend good, and this time if she is wise she will keep her troubles to herself.  Of course, if any one should see her going home in the wee small hours of the morning it might be unpleasant for her, but then, we can’t trouble ourselves over that.

“Yours, hastily,

“Bert.”

Grace stared first at Anne, then Miriam, in incredulous, shocked surprise.

“What a cruel girl!” she exclaimed.  “Poor Elfreda!”

“Of course, the writer meant Elfreda,” agreed Miriam. “‘Bert,’ I suppose, stands for Alberta.  In the first place, what haunted house does she mean?”

“I don’t know,” answered Grace, knitting her brows.  “Wait a minute!  I’ll go down and ask Mrs. Elwood.”