It was nice getting re-aquainted with Billie Bradley. I read several of the books as a kid, in Dutch, and it was a joy to re-read this one. It's one of those lovely old-fashioned books where everything is an adventure, yet not much happens. It's just a jolly good time. ( )

I bought this book because I already had book two. I grew up reading old girls' books because my parents could rarely afford new ones. It's a nice read. It was interesting to find out that the expression, "you haven't got anything on me" was considered slang in 1920. The girls and boys are nice people, although I wish Violet would get some more gumption.

Billie accidentally breaks an expensive statue belonging to her teacher just when her father has his money tied up with real estate deals and her rich great-uncle is out of the country. Billie is honor-bound to replace that statue, but has no idea how to come up with the money. Worse, her two best friends are going to be able to go to that boarding school they've all wanted to attend and Billie can't. Her brother is in the same boat with his two best friends and the military academy they want to attend.

Then the great-aunt for whom Billie was named dies. Alas, Aunt Beatrice left her money to a missionary society. She did leave the family homestead and its contents to Billie. Billie, her chums, and the housekeeper to one of them go to spend part of the summer at the old house, with the boys to arrive a few days later (heaven forbid they back out of a promised tennis match).

The girls hope to find some valuable antiques to solve Billie and Chet's money problems. There's no electricity, but there are mysterious sounds in the night, such as eerie music coming from the piano.

Who are those bearded men with clubs who don't want the teens going any further into the woods than they've already wandered? Who or what is making those mysterious sounds? Is the place really haunted? Why did the author give the two best discoveries away by including them in the chapter titles??? ( )