Read Online Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright - Free Book Online

is something else. Dixon, or whatever his name was, must be laid to rest.”
    â€œLaid to rest?” Chris didn’t like this conversation one bit. Laying Dixon to rest sounded like killing him—but wasn’t Dixon already dead?
    â€œThe fellow clearly wants something. Or else he wants to keep us away from something. I haven’t read a ghost story in forty years, but it seems to me those are the usual reasons given for a ghost to walk. I wonder if it could be those stamps you told me about. You said the police looked for them but couldn’t find them. Maybe they’re still somewhere in this house. That would explain why Dixon is prowling around. He’s keeping his eye on the treasure he died to protect.”
    Chris shivered. “So what should we do?” she asked. “Hunt for the stamps?”
    Uncle Ralph looked at her with approval. “Exactly right, sport,” he said. “Starting tomorrow, we’ll go over the entire house. We’ll save the attic for last,” he added hastily, seeing Chris’s expression. “If we can find the stamps and turn them over to the police, there won’t be any reason for Dixon to stay around. We’ll have some peace, and I can get back to my work. What do you say?”
    â€œOkay,” Chris said. “I guess.” She wondered how he could expect to find anything as small as a stamp in this huge house, but she was willing to try. It would be nice to do something
with
somebody instead of being by herself all day.
    They finished their cocoa and rinsed the cups, and Uncle Ralph turned out the lights. Together they trudged to the front hall and looked up the stairs.
    â€œI don’t know,” Uncle Ralph said after a minute. “Are you going to be able to sleep up there?”
    â€œI don’t think so.” Chris’s goose bumps were coming back.
    Uncle Ralph ran his fingers through his hair. “Then how about sleeping down here in the parlor tonight? Both of us.” He sounded as if he hoped she’d say yes.
    â€œTerrific!” Chris said. He really could read her mind.
    She used the little bathroom under the stairs and thencurled up on the old couch in the parlor. Uncle Ralph settled in the big chair close to the door.
    It was amazing how much better she felt, just knowing he was there.
He’s not very big, and I guess he’s as frightened as I am
, she thought,
but he’s brave. He opened that attic door and started up the stairs, when all I wanted to do was run!
    She didn’t think her own father could have been any braver.

14.
A Warning from Russell Charles
    â€œWe’ll start our search in the study,” Uncle Ralph announced at breakfast. “I’m sure the police did a pretty thorough search at the time of the murders. But there’s a good chance they didn’t open every single book. That’s what we’ll do.” He sounded excited at the idea.
    â€œOkay.” Chris moved her shoulders in circles, trying to loosen the knots. The couch had made a bumpy bed.
    She was surprised that Uncle Ralph could sound so full of energy. Twice during the night, she’d opened her eyes to see him leaning forward in his chair, listening intently. Each time she’d held her breath, wondering what he’d heard. When he leaned back and closed his eyes, she’d had to force herself to close her eyes, too. Her dreams had been full of dark, toweringfigures and footsteps thumping down distant halls.
    â€œYou
like
mysteries!” she exclaimed suddenly. “You like ghost hunting, Uncle Ralph.”
    â€œNonsense,” Uncle Ralph said. “Things just look different in the daylight. I want to get this business cleared up so I can get back to work.” He whistled under his breath while they washed the dishes.
    It was strange, Chris thought. They seemed to have exchanged places. She’d been badly frightened the first time she’d opened the attic