The Second Evil by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online Page A

the newspaper. Nor was she ever mentioned as being involved with charitable functions, the way wealthy people often are.
    â€œI haven’t found much personal information about her,” Sarah Beth continued. “I don’t know if she ever remarried. There isn’t any mention of it in the Fear family records I’ve seen. Of course, she didn’t live long enough to have much of a life.”
    â€œShe died young too?” Corky asked in surprise.
    â€œVery,” Sarah Beth replied somberly. “In her twenties. Sarah died in 1899. The whole thing was very mysterious. The Fear family pleasure boat capsized on Fear Lake—for no apparent reason. It was a calm,sunny summer day. The lake was as flat as glass. There were no other boats in the water.
    â€œYet the boat turned over. All on board were drowned. Sarah Fear, her brother, her niece and nephew, and a servant.”
    â€œWhew!” Chip let out his breath, shaking his head.
    Corky stared at Sarah Beth, listening to her story in rapt silence. So that explains the four graves around Sarah Fear’s grave, she thought. A brother, a niece, a nephew, and a servant.
    â€œThey all drowned,” Sarah Beth said again, speaking softly, leaning over the table. “All within view of the shore. Maybe a five- or ten-minute swim at most.”
    Sarah Beth sipped her tea, then licked her pale lips. “No one knows why the boat turned over, no one knows why everyone drowned. It’s all a mystery.”
    Corky stared down at her mug of hot chocolate, thinking hard, Sarah Beth’s scratchy voice still echoing in her ears.
    It was the evil spirit, Corky thought. It
had
to be the evil spirit that was responsible for that accident.
    She was tempted to tell Sarah Beth about the evil force, but it was late. Her hand ached, and she suddenly felt tired. Besides, she realized she didn’t really trust the young woman. She didn’t know enough about her to confide in her.
    â€œThere’s more,” Sarah Beth said suddenly. Corky saw Sarah Beth staring at her as if trying to read her thoughts. “After Sarah Fear’s death, there were all kinds of stories—stories about how she and the servant who drowned had been lovers. Stories about how Sarah and the servant were seen walking in Shadyside, walking in the woods behind her house, even walking in town—long after their death.
    â€œYou know,” Sarah Beth scoffed, “the usual ghoststory mumbo jumbo that the Fear family is known for.”
    Her attitude surprised Corky. “You don’t believe it?” Corky demanded.
    Sarah Beth chuckled. A smile formed slowly on her lips. “I think it’s all kind of funny,” she replied, locking her dark eyes on Corky’s, as if trying to gauge her reaction.
    Funny? Corky thought. Five people drown? Their boat capsizes on a calm lake for no reason? Such a horrible, tragic story. And Sarah Beth thinks it’s kind of funny?
    Corky took a final sip of her hot chocolate. “It’s pretty late. My mom is probably worried. I didn’t tell her I’d be gone this long.” She gave Chip a push to get him moving.
    â€œNice meeting you,” Chip said to Sarah Beth. He slid out of the booth and reached for Corky’s windbreaker, hanging on a hook on the back wall.
    â€œI enjoyed talking with you,” Sarah Beth said, her eyes on Corky. “I usually don’t meet such nice people in a cemetery.”
    â€œAre you leaving too?” Corky asked, standing up and allowing Chip to help her put her coat on.
    â€œI think I’ll stay and have another cup of tea,” she replied. “I live so close. I haven’t far to walk.”
    They all said good night again, and Chip and Corky made their way down the narrow aisle, past the counter where the two white-haired men still sat hunched over their coffee mugs, and out the front door.
    â€œShe’s nice,” Chip said, glancing up at