Ghost Town by Annie Bryant Page A

ghost?” Avery asked, obviously disappointed.
    â€œAvery, you really thought it was a ghost?” Maeve asked her.
    â€œNo,” Avery shook her head slowly, “I thought it was a gigantic mouse!”
    â€œEWWWWWW! Gross!” Maeve cried. Ever since a mouse ran across her hair at the first BSG sleepover, the thought of mice sent Maeve into panic mode.
    A sudden and very loud noise from upstairs captured everyone’s attention.
    â€œWhat was that?” A trembling Maeve grabbed Char-lotte’s hand.
    â€œMaybe it’s a body being dragged across the floor,” Avery said.
    â€œYour dad’s still doing something up there, right?” Maeve asked Charlotte.
    â€œYeah, I’m sure he is,” Charlotte said, patting Maeve’s arm. She wasn’t sure who she was trying to comfort more— Maeve or herself.
    Just then, a beam of light bounced off the wall andshined into their eyes. The collective scream from all three girls rattled all the windows.
    â€œIt’s just Mr. Ramsey and Lissie,” Avery yelled a little too loudly.
    Charlotte was so happy to see her father that she ran up and gave him a big hug. His hands were full with a huge pile of blankets and pillows, and he dropped them on the spot. Lissie had the flashlight, and an unlit kerosene lamp dangled from Mr. Ramsey’s right arm.
    â€œSo . . . what’s the story?” Avery asked.
    â€œWell, the wind was blowing in through the west window. It was only open a crack, which is why it howled and whistled so loudly. It’ll be a little warmer down here now that we’ve stopped that draft.”
    â€œBut I’m still frrrreezing,” Maeve chattered, blowing out a cloud of breath.
    â€œThese will help with that,” Lissie said.
    â€œYou don’t think there are any mice in those blankets, do you?” a shaky Maeve asked, backing away slowly.
    â€œNo. These blankets were in a trunk, Maeve. A mouse-proof trunk, I’m sure,” Mr. Ramsey assured her.
    â€œSo what’s up there?” Avery asked, obviously itching to know about any gruesome discoveries.
    â€œIt’s very odd. We went into all the rooms and . . .” Lissie started.
    â€œAnd what?” Avery asked impatiently.
    â€œAnd the beds in the bedrooms were all made up,” Mr. Ramsey said.
    â€œReally? That’s weird,” Charlotte mused.
    â€œYes, it’s almost like . . .” Lissie trailed off.
    â€œAlmost like WHAT?” Avery asked, her patience wearing thin.
    â€œIt’s almost as if someone’s been living here,” Lissie mused, looking around the lobby.
    â€œLiving
here
? Are you serious?” Maeve shuddered.
    â€œThe sheets are worn, but clean. They seem like they’re in fairly good shape and recently laundered,” Lissie reported.
    The girls looked at each other. “No wonder it feels like there are ghosts all around us. We’re trespassing,” Charlotte said.
    â€œWhat if whoever lives here comes back and is mad that we broke in?” Maeve wondered. “You know, sort of like Goldilocks and the three bears?”
    â€œWe didn’t break in,” Mr. Ramsey corrected her. “The door was open.”
    â€œBut if this hotel belongs to someone else, where are they?” Maeve wondered out loud.
    â€œLet’s see what’s in the parlor,” said Mr. Ramsey a little too cheerfully. Trooping after him into what appeared to be the old hotel’s large common sitting room, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
    They found more pieces of furniture covered with sheets—a couch and two chairs facing the fireplace. Logs and kindling were laid out and plenty of wood was stacked up next to a large stone fireplace. It did look pretty inviting.
    â€œLissie must be right! Someone is definitely living here,” Maeve confirmed.
    â€œI don’t think so,” Mr. Ramsey said as he knelt beforethe fireplace with the box of matches in