Part 16 (1/2)

”Whatever host like that?” a burly ed ”We didn't think the ghost was real, and anted to see hoas produced”

”Do you believe it's real now?”

The boy shuddered ”I' it,” he adain,” Scotty added

Seeing that the boys were all right, the group dispersed In a few moments they were alone Rick shook his head hard, to clear it ”Nohere are we?” he asked

Scotty laughed ladder if you could answer it”

”One thing more and I'm ready to call quits,” Rick said Common sense told him to beat a path to the Millers, but he was stubborn He wasn't giving up yet He searched until he found a coke bottle, then taking his nerve in both hands he cli water then rinsed it When he was satisfied it was clean enough, he filled it frohostly mist had appeared only short minutes before

Only then did he and Scotty leave the picnic grounds and proceed hoirls aiting One look at the boys' faces and they knew so had happened

Jan Miller said with quick intuition, ”You're hurt!”

”Not permanently,” Rick reassured her ”For a while ondered, but it's okay now”

The Millers and the girls listened to their recital with mixed horror and relief that the effect of the cold had vanished so quickly Dr

Miller's broere knit as he tried to puzzle out what had happened

”You saw no projection beam, I assume?”

”Not a trace,” Rick said emphatically

”You were actually in the mist when this cold effect hit you?” Dr

Miller asked

”I was,” Rick agreed ”How about you, Scotty?”

”Saet my hands on

I was actually in the pool of water Rick was on the edge of it”

Dr Miller considered ”Even if your assumption about dry ice is correct, Rick, that wouldn't explain the cold effect If one touches dry ice, it is cold enough to cause a burning sensation, but had dry ice been used on you it would have taken chunks of it in contact with your skin You felt nothing solid, I assume?”

Both boys shook their heads

”Then we can rule out dry ice I can't iine what hit you”

”The Blue Ghost,” Barby said, and shuddered visibly ”This ought to prove it, I guess”