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from there, Benny. Mrs. Harrington might be back any minute.”
    “Maybe those things will be in our picnic tomorrow,” Violet told him.
    “Maybe.” But he doubted it.
    Jessie pointed to some wires leading to a hinged metal panel beside the door.
    “That’s the fuse box,” she said. “Those wires are for the phone and electricity.”
    “I wonder why the phones and power are always going out,” Henry said. “I wonder if Mrs. Harrington tries to make this place horrible on purpose.”
    “But why?” asked Violet. “She should want tourists to come, not scare them away.”
    “I think the key to this mystery,” said Jessie, “is the Lady in Gray.”
    “We’ll see her tomorrow,” Violet said softly.
    The next afternoon the children and Corey piled into the Jeep.
    “Us old guys will stay behind and chew the fat,” said Victor Lacey, waving them off.
    “Chew the fat?” said Benny. “Is that what’s in our picnic basket?” He wouldn’t be surprised.
    “I hope not!” Corey laughed, starting the Jeep with a roar. “Now you kids show me the way.”
    The road was as bumpy as ever. Jessie felt like her bones were being rattled.
    Suddenly Corey hit a huge pothole and the Jeep halted.
    “Uh-oh,” he said, hopping out. He and Henry lifted the hood.
    “Do you know anything about cars?” asked Henry.
    “Oh, sure.” Corey twisted knobs and pulled out oily dipsticks. After tinkering with the engine about fifteen minutes, he threw up his greasy hands. “She’s a goner! We’ll have to walk.”
    Violet hauled the picnic basket out of the backseat while Jessie grabbed the plaid blanket Marianne had given them to sit on.
    Jessie whispered to Henry, “I thought Corey could fix cars.”
    “That’s what he said,” he whispered back. “But all he did was check the oil and battery fluid.”
    When they reached the wagon trail leading down into the canyon, Corey took the picnic basket and blanket from the girls. He’s really nice, Jessie thought. If he weren’t so loud, maybe Marianne would like him better.
    Corey was excited about everything in Tincup. He pretended to be a cowboy getting off his horse in front of the dry goods store, giving Benny a fit of giggles. After he looped imaginary reins over the hitching post, they went inside.
    “Cool,” Corey said. “I wish I lived in those days.”
    “Me, too,” agreed Benny. He liked Corey.
    Violet was checking the sky out the window. “The sun is starting to go down,” she reported. “We’d better get ready.”
    But Rose never appeared. The sun faded over the rim of the canyon without any sign of the Lady in Gray.
    “I guess even a ghost needs a night off,” Corey joked.
    Sitting on the blanket, they ate their supper — cheese and stale bread with boiled eggs.
    “Don’t you think the food here is lousy?” Jessie asked Corey.
    He laughed. “If you had college food, you’d think this was great.” He tipped his head back. “If I’m not mistaken, serious rain clouds are rolling in. We’d better hurry back.”
    They packed quickly. As they hurried down Main Street, Violet glanced back over her shoulder. She had a feeling someone was watching them.
    Someone was!
    Violet glimpsed half a shadowed face through the slatted swinging doors of the dance hall. A yellowed, gnarled hand gripped the edge of the door.

    Was it the ghost of Rose Payne, scared off by Corey’s loud voice? she wondered. Afraid, Violet scurried to catch up with the others.
    Without the Jeep, it was a long hike back to Eagles Nest. Maybe I’m imagining things, Violet thought. She decided not to tell anyone about the face.
    Heavy clouds burst while the children were several yards from the motel. Soaked and shivering, they ran into the dining hall.
    Grandfather had built a fire in the stone fireplace. Lanterns glowed on tables. The power was out again.
    “The Jeep died,” Corey explained, taking the thin towel Marianne handed him.
    “So has the electricity and phones — again ,”