Night Stalks The Mansion: A True Story Of One Family's Ghostly Adventure by Constance Westbie, Harold Cameron Page A
Authors: Constance Westbie, Harold Cameron
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are capable of causing a lot more trouble than
they already have."
"We'll just keep quiet and play it by ear," I finally decided.
Elda Clare arrived on schedule. She loved the whole place
-from the mansion with its spacious rooms and grand atmosphere to the grounds, the coach house, maple tree and
summerhouse. She was so enthused that we looked around
with new eyes and were happier about the mansion than
we had been for some time.
My sister had arrived with plenty of money for incidental
expenses and for the New York shopping spree she had
mentioned in her letter. This was in the "old" days when a
new hat usually answered any woman's problem from a
spell of blues to a fit of temper. I was amused at her excited
anticipation, but could understand it. Although Dorothy
had given no indication of needing a new hat to improve
her disposition, I felt that the outing to New York would
do her good. The two days following Elda Clare's arrival
had been uneventful as far as ghostly visitations were concerned and we were more relaxed.
Dorothy was able to get a baby sitter for a few hours so
they drove to the airport, parked the car, and flew to New
York which was only minutes away by air from Philadelphia.
There they spent a happy morning. They bought the hats
first and left the remainder of the shopping until after a
very swank luncheon which they enjoyed tremendously.
After lunch Elda Clare decided that she wanted a paper
to use as a shopping guide and laid her purse down for a
moment while she selected one. This is a mistake in any
city, but particularly in New York. When she turned around,
paper in hand, her purse had disappeared.
Filled with consternation, the two of them searched everywhere and asked questions of bystanders-all to no avail.
The purse was gone. Elda Clare was upset because personal
cards and identification were in the purse, together with
checkbook and four hundred dollars in cash. Fortunately,
Dorothy had put the return plane tickets in her own purse and still had some money left. But such a damper had been
put on the shopping expedition that they decided to return
home.
That night Elda Clare phoned Burchell, telling him
about the theft and asking that he forward more money.
He told her not to let the incident spoil her trip and promised to wire extra money the next day. While talking to
him, she laid her cigarettes on the hall table which was
located very near the library door. I noticed them there
before I went to bed, but only gave them a cursory glance.
The next morning was Sunday and breakfast was later
than usual. I hadn't had too much chance to talk with my
sister and looked forward to a leisurely visit. However, when
she came to the table, I noticed that she looked tired and
responded to our greetings in a bemused fashion. Suddenly,
I felt a stir of apprehension. I didn't feel that her distraught
appearance could be attributed to the loss of money that
Burchell could well afford to replace.
"What's the matter?" I asked. "Didn't you sleep well?"
"No," she replied shortly.
I went on. "The kids okay?"
I knew the question was superfluous as Larry had already
bounded down the stairs, consumed an amazing amount
of ham and eggs, and was out in the yard with Carrol and
the dogs. Lana and Janet were still asleep upstairs.
As she still remained silent, I kept on. "Burchell wasn't
too upset about your losing that money, was he?"
"No," she replied slowly. "It isn't Burchell and it isn't
the children. It's me! Then she added in a rush, "Harold,
I've got something to tell you-and you aren't going to
believe a word!"
I sighed. "Try me," I suggested simply.
"Well-there's something wrong with this house. Something is here that doesn't belong here-that's what!" she
blurted out.
"You might as well tell us about it." I hoped I didn't
sound as resigned as I felt. Dorothy, who had been feeding
cereal to Michael, held her spoon in midair.
"Well - last night I
they already have."
"We'll just keep quiet and play it by ear," I finally decided.
Elda Clare arrived on schedule. She loved the whole place
-from the mansion with its spacious rooms and grand atmosphere to the grounds, the coach house, maple tree and
summerhouse. She was so enthused that we looked around
with new eyes and were happier about the mansion than
we had been for some time.
My sister had arrived with plenty of money for incidental
expenses and for the New York shopping spree she had
mentioned in her letter. This was in the "old" days when a
new hat usually answered any woman's problem from a
spell of blues to a fit of temper. I was amused at her excited
anticipation, but could understand it. Although Dorothy
had given no indication of needing a new hat to improve
her disposition, I felt that the outing to New York would
do her good. The two days following Elda Clare's arrival
had been uneventful as far as ghostly visitations were concerned and we were more relaxed.
Dorothy was able to get a baby sitter for a few hours so
they drove to the airport, parked the car, and flew to New
York which was only minutes away by air from Philadelphia.
There they spent a happy morning. They bought the hats
first and left the remainder of the shopping until after a
very swank luncheon which they enjoyed tremendously.
After lunch Elda Clare decided that she wanted a paper
to use as a shopping guide and laid her purse down for a
moment while she selected one. This is a mistake in any
city, but particularly in New York. When she turned around,
paper in hand, her purse had disappeared.
Filled with consternation, the two of them searched everywhere and asked questions of bystanders-all to no avail.
The purse was gone. Elda Clare was upset because personal
cards and identification were in the purse, together with
checkbook and four hundred dollars in cash. Fortunately,
Dorothy had put the return plane tickets in her own purse and still had some money left. But such a damper had been
put on the shopping expedition that they decided to return
home.
That night Elda Clare phoned Burchell, telling him
about the theft and asking that he forward more money.
He told her not to let the incident spoil her trip and promised to wire extra money the next day. While talking to
him, she laid her cigarettes on the hall table which was
located very near the library door. I noticed them there
before I went to bed, but only gave them a cursory glance.
The next morning was Sunday and breakfast was later
than usual. I hadn't had too much chance to talk with my
sister and looked forward to a leisurely visit. However, when
she came to the table, I noticed that she looked tired and
responded to our greetings in a bemused fashion. Suddenly,
I felt a stir of apprehension. I didn't feel that her distraught
appearance could be attributed to the loss of money that
Burchell could well afford to replace.
"What's the matter?" I asked. "Didn't you sleep well?"
"No," she replied shortly.
I went on. "The kids okay?"
I knew the question was superfluous as Larry had already
bounded down the stairs, consumed an amazing amount
of ham and eggs, and was out in the yard with Carrol and
the dogs. Lana and Janet were still asleep upstairs.
As she still remained silent, I kept on. "Burchell wasn't
too upset about your losing that money, was he?"
"No," she replied slowly. "It isn't Burchell and it isn't
the children. It's me! Then she added in a rush, "Harold,
I've got something to tell you-and you aren't going to
believe a word!"
I sighed. "Try me," I suggested simply.
"Well-there's something wrong with this house. Something is here that doesn't belong here-that's what!" she
blurted out.
"You might as well tell us about it." I hoped I didn't
sound as resigned as I felt. Dorothy, who had been feeding
cereal to Michael, held her spoon in midair.
"Well - last night I
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