The Ghost of Popcorn Hill Read Online Free PDF Page A

Peter said.

CHAPTER TWELVE
    â€œIf He Does Come Again, We’ll Be Ready”
    â€œLet’s go out to the rock and watch for the ghost dog,” Martin whispered after supper that night. “If he sees us looking, maybe he’ll come back to the cabin tonight.”
    Peter shook his head. He picked up a ball from the bedroom floor and rolled it out into the kitchen for Rosie to chase. “I’d rather play with Rosie,” he said. “You’d better not go either.”
    But Martin was determined. Now that he’d thought of bringing Tom Buffle and the sheepdog together, he was going to find a way. It was the only answer he could think of to their problem.
    It was lonely out on the rock without Peter. Fog rested like cotton candy over the tops of the trees in the valley. Martin sat down and wrapped his arms around his knees.
    If I see the dog, I’ll just wave at him and run back to the cabin , he decided uneasily. He didn’t like ghosts any more than Peter did.
    Minutes dragged by while he sat and thought about the ghost dog and Tom Buffle. Below him, the orchard and the little meadow in front of it disappeared from sight. The fog began creeping up Popcorn Hill.
    Martin shivered. Bit by bit, the path up the hill vanished. The dog could be right here before I know it , he thought. He listened hard and imagined he heard the soft flip-flop of big paws.
    He’s here! Martin jumped down off the rock and raced headlong toward the lights of the cabin. He had hoped to make sure the sheepdog was still around, but he didn’t want to meet him out here all alone.

    Mrs. Tracy was reading and Peter was drawing a picture when Martin burst through the doorway. Peter followed him into the bedroom.
    â€œDid you see him?”
    Martin peered out into the mist-filled yard. There was no sign of the dog. “I didn’t see him,” he admitted. “But I’m pretty sure he was close by. And I’ve thought of a plan. If he does come again, we’ll be ready.”
    â€œI don’t want to hear it,” Peter said.
    Martin made a face. He was scared himself, and his brother wasn’t helping. “Don’t you want to get rid of the ghosts?” he demanded.
    Peter wouldn’t look up. “Sure I do,” he mumbled.
    â€œThen you’d better listen, because you have to help.”
    Peter threw himself down on his bed. “What do I have to do?” he asked unwillingly.
    â€œSomething you’re real good at,” Martin said. He was still annoyed. “You have to cry.” And then he explained the plan he’d thought of, sitting out there in the fog.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    How the Plan Worked
    Mrs. Tracy was sleepy and decided to go to bed early. That made the first part of the plan easy. Just before the boys climbed into bed themselves, they lifted the screen out of the bedroom window.
    â€œI know a ghost dog could come right through a screen if he wanted to, but we have to be sure he knows he’s welcome,” Martin explained.
    â€œHe’s not welcome,” Peter said stubbornly. “I wish Daddy were home. What if something goes wrong? I’m scared.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to worry about,” Martin said. He was glad Peter couldn’t see the goose bumps on his arms.
    â€œI wish Rosie could come in and sleep with us,” Peter persisted. “She’d like that.”
    Martin didn’t answer. Peter knew very well why Rosie couldn’t be with them. If she got excited and started jumping around, the ghost dog might not come.
    The boys were still for a while, listening to the wind that had blown the fog away. Moonlight spilled through the window. Then the wind faded to a breeze, and Martin heard the same soft flip-flop steps he had heard earlier in the evening.
    Something panted at the windowsill.
    â€œOh, no!” Peter whimpered. He crouched under the covers with just one eye showing as the sheepdog leaped