Backstage with a Ghost by Joan Lowery Nixon

know who the ghost is,” Brian said, and nodded. “It’s Mr. Peabody.”
    The ghost let its shoulders slump. Then it shrugged. “How did you know?”
    â€œYou were standing outside the theater the day the paramedics were called,” Brian explained. “And you were listening when Sam talked about ghosts in the theater, weren’t you?”
    Mr. Peabody nodded.
    â€œMy guess is that you staged the accidents in order to discredit Mr. Marconi. You knew that the historical society would be suspicious, and they were.”
    â€œHow would that help?” asked Sean.
    â€œMr. Peabody knew that both groups had motives to be suspicious of each other. And as long as they kept fighting one another, the Culbertson would stay just as it is.”
    â€œBut what about the ghost?” asked Sean.
    â€œHe decided to use a ghost to scare us away,” Brian said. “That’s why we were the first to see it.
    â€œYou also insisted that you hadn’t been at the theater when the inspector was hurt,” Brian said. “But later you pointed out exactly where he’d been standing when the accident occurred. You gave yourself away.”
    â€œI love the Culbertson,” Mr. Peabody cried, “and I want everyone to stay away from it and leave it alone. I couldn’t allow this marvelous theater to lose all its beautiful old dignity at the hands of those women who want to restore and redecorate it. And I certainly couldn’t stand by and watch it being torn down.” He snuffled. “Nobody was supposed to get hurt.”
    â€œBut the inspector was hurt, and the battens could have fallen on Sean.”
    â€œThat’s not my fault! I’d warned all of you to stay back and not touch the ropes!” Mr. Peabody groaned and wrung his hands. “Now what shall I do?” he murmured. “Until I decide, I supposed I’d better lock you in here where no one will hear you.”
    A voice from near the stage suddenly screeched, “Sean! Brian! Where are you guys? Why’d you come without me?”
    As Mr. Peabody whirled toward the sound, Brian and Sam ran past him into the corridor.
    As Sean ran out, Mr. Peabody made a grab for him. Sean slid just under his reach and continued running.
    Brian, Sean, and Sam dashed through the backstage area and onto the stage, where they crashed into Debbie Jean Parker.
    â€œHey, what’s up?” she asked. “You guys look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
    Debbie Jean, of course, claimed all the credit.
    â€œI saved your lives,” she said smugly. “If I hadn’t shown up at just the right time, there is no telling what might have happened to you. If you want to send me flowers or candy, skip the flowers. I like chocolates.”
    Fat chance, Sean thought. He wasn’t going to use his allowance to buy Debbie Jean chocolates.
    Immediately after their escape Brian telephoned his dad and explained what had happened. The police arrived a short time later at the theater. They found Mr. Peabody sitting alone in the dark in one of the dressing rooms, mumbling to himself about “old times.” Mr. Marconi, Mrs. Hemsley, and Mrs. Rodriguez, who’d been meeting in Mr. Marconi’s office, also arrived, as did Mr. Quinn and Al Duggan, the reporter.
    Even though Mr. Marconi and the women from the historical society could no longer blame each other for the ghost and the accidents, they resumed their argument.
    Al Duggan took notes while the police questioned Brian, Sean, and Sam. Then he had questions of his own: “When did you realize the apparition wasn’t a real ghost? Have any of you boys ever seen a ghost? Have you seen or talked to the ghost named Horatio?”
    Sam decided to play a joke on the reporter. “Ah, I have countless stories about zee ghosts,” he droned in his fake scary voice. “I will be glad to tell you…”
    Brian pulled Sam away from Mr.