Daddy Morrison glanced at her sharply.

“Don’t let me hear of either of you annoying Miss Putnam in any way, “he said sternly.  “I know how children can sometimes, without meaning it, bother an elderly and crochety person.  Miss Putnam has every right to keep her house and yard for herself, and if she is ‘cross,’ as you call it, that is her affair, too.  My advice to you youngsters is to stay away from the Collins house.”

“Now will you be good?” said Ralph, catching Sister by her short skirts as she attempted to slip past him as he sat in one of the comfortable porch rockers.

The family had scattered after supper, and only Ralph and Jimmie were on the front porch.

“The day after a party is always unlucky,” observed Jimmie, tweaking his little sister’s hair-ribbon playfully.  “You and Brother have had more than your share of scolding today, haven’t you, Sister?”

To his surprise, and Ralph’s, Sister’s small foot in its patent leather slipper and white sock struck at him viciously.

“Why, Elizabeth Morrison!” exclaimed Ralph, lifting the little girl to his lap and holding her firmly there in spite of her struggles.  “I’m astonished at you.  What are you kicking Jimmie for?”

“Go way!” cried Sister furiously, as Jimmie tried to see her face.  “Go way—­you’re a mean, hateful boy!”

“Quit it!” commanded Ralph, giving her a little shake.  “Stop acting like this, Sister, or I’ll take you in and put you to bed!”

Sister knew he was quite capable of doing this very thing and she stopped struggling.

“Jimmie is just as mean!” she sobbed, burying her head in Ralph’s coat.

“What have I done?” demanded Jimmie, much surprised.

“You’ve gone and put a padlock on the barn door!” flashed Sister, sitting up and drying her eyes.

Jimmie laughed, and Ralph laughed a little too.

“Well, I haven’t locked the door for the reason you think,” explained Jimmie kindly.  “It isn’t just to keep you and Brother out, Sister.  I’m making you something nice, and I don’t want you to see it until it is all finished.”

“All right,” conceded Sister graciously.  “I thought maybe you didn’t want Brother and me to play in the barn.”

“No hard feelings, then?” inquired Jimmie, holding out his hand.

And—­“No hard feelings,” admitted Sister, smiling after the “salt-water shower.”

CHAPTER XI

JIMMIE’S SURPRISE

The “haunted” house continued to be an attraction to the children of the neighborhood even after Miss Putnam moved in, and the ghost might reasonably be supposed to have moved out.  Alas, it was Miss Putnam herself who now supplied the thrills.