The Smoky Corridor

29

Judy parked outside the North Chester Public Library, a two-story red brick building topped with a small schoolhouse steeple.

Her good friend, the librarian, Jeanette Emerson, a feisty lady with curly white hair and bright purple reading glasses, saw her come in the front door.

“Judy! Hello, dear!”

“Hi.”

Mrs. Emerson arched an eyebrow. “Did you remember to wipe your feet?”

Judy backtracked to the welcome mat. Swiped her shoes clean.

“Now then,” said Mrs. Emerson, “to what do we owe the pleasure of a visit from our favorite children’s author and critically acclaimed dramatist?”

“Research.”

“Wonderful. You can help me reshelve these books while we chat.”

Mrs. Emerson pushed a rolling cart into the stacks.

Judy dutifully followed.

• • •

“Okay, here’s my question,” said Judy as she slipped a neon pink murder mystery back into its proper slot on the shelf. “Actually, it’s from Zack. Another paranormal research project.”

“Has he seen …?” Mrs. Emerson peered over the tops of her reading glasses. “An apparition?”

Judy nodded. “At the middle school.”

“Oh, my.”

“It was the two boys,” whispered Judy. “The Donnelly brothers.”

“Fascinating. What did they want?”

“For Zack to become their ‘Kit Carson.’”

“I’m sorry. Their what?”

“Kit Carson. Don’t ask me what it means.”

“Very well. I won’t.”

“The older brother …”

“Joseph.”

“Told Zack they were ‘sons of Daniel Boone.’ But then his little brother …”

“Seth.”

“Said he was Johnny Appleseed.”

Mrs. Emerson nodded contemplatively. “A very interesting and yet confusing family tree. Perhaps the two boys were just playing at being famous frontiersmen. It was quite the thing to do in 1910. Not that I was around back then. Almost, but not quite.”

“Well, more importantly, I want to learn as much as we can about the Donnelly brothers. How exactly did they die? Was the fire their fault? Were they good kids or bad kids? Are they …”

“Good ghosts or bad ghosts?”

“Exactly.”

“Come along,” said Mrs. Emerson. “These books can wait. My curiosity, however, much like that of a certain cat I know, is demanding that I feed it some answers!”