The Ghost Wore Gray by Bruce Coville Read Free Book Online

is that after our experience with the Woman in White Chris and I had become sensitized to ghosts, and could see them more easily than most people.
    I finally decided to try to wake Snoring Beauty—mostly because I figured she would kill me if she found out I had let her sleep through a ghostly appearance. And she’d have to find out, because I was going to need someone to talk this over with in the morning.
    The problem was, how to wake her up without scaring off the ghost. I didn’t want to spook the spook, if you know what I mean.
    That sounds a little backward, doesn’t it? After all, people are supposed to be frightened of ghosts, not the other way around. But I was starting to feel a little more comfortable with this one. I still wasn’t convinced that he was harmless. But at the moment I had the feeling he had come visiting mostly out of curiosity. And if he was dangerous, I figured I would just as soon have Chris awake to help me out.
    I considered doing a little snoring myself. If it was loud enough, it might wake her. But I decided the ghost would know I was faking, and might not be amused. Finally I gave up trying to be fancy and just called her name. Either it would work or it wouldn’t. Keeping my eyes on the ghost, I whispered “Chris. Oh, Chris! I’ve got a little surprise for you!”
    Snorts and sputters from the other bed. (She’s going to kill me when she reads this. But it’s true.)
    â€œOh, Chris. We’ve got company.”
    Snort, snort. Sputter, sputter .
    â€œHe’s beautiful, and you can see right through him.”
    I swear, if you’re talking about men Chris will hear you even in her sleep. Her eyes popped open. Then she let out the kind of yelp I’d managed to avoid so far.
    The ghost shimmered and almost disappeared. His shape got all wobbly for a minute. I held my breath, hoping Chris would have the good sense to be quiet.
    She did, and the two of us lay there as if we had been frozen. Finally the ghost came back into focus.
    Unfortunately, my father chose that moment to pound on the door.
    The ghost looked startled. An instant later he was gone. But before he faded out of sight, he took a moment to do something wonderful. Sweeping off his hat, he made a deep bow. Then he put his fingers to his lips—and blew us a kiss.
    Chris clapped her hands over her heart. “I think I’m in love,” she whispered.
    My father rapped on the door again. “Nine. Chris. Are you in there?” He sounded worried.
    I got out of bed and slipped on my bathrobe. “What’s up?” I asked, opening the door.
    He didn’t just sound worried. He looked worried. And a little confused.
    â€œWell, I’m glad you two are safe and sound,” he said.
    â€œShouldn’t we be?” I asked, ignoring the fact that we had just been visited by a ghost.
    â€œOf course you should,” he said. “But there’s something strange going on. Were you two in my room tonight?”
    â€œNot since before supper,” I said.
    â€œWell, there goes one theory,” he muttered.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” I asked.
    â€œCome here,” he said, making a gesture with his head. “You, too, Chris.”
    Chris scrambled out of bed and grabbed her robe. The two of us followed him out of our room and into the hallway. Mona was standing near the door of his room, looking puzzled. I was not amused. Dad gestured toward the door of his room, and I peeked inside.
    It was a mess. The dresser drawers were half-open. Clothes were scattered all over the floor. The mattress had been pushed sideways so it was almost falling off the bed.
    â€œWhat happened?” I asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” he said. “Mona and I got into a discussion about the inn, and I was going to show her some of the preliminary sketches I had made today. When we got up here, I found this.”
    â€œWas anything stolen?” asked