Evening star., 1909-08-19

In broad daylight the lad had felt q
trifie ashamed Of his panic and IN 3ustf-
fication. had given out the tale that wnen
the bedroom door was pushed open ne
saw a man with a bloody knife in his
hand standing just within the room.
ready te stab any one who entered GRIM
bleshaw, ON the contrary. aff1rmed that
he himself had seen nothing but the still
form OH the bed, and that whatever 1t
was rushed past him developed unseen
out of the darkness.
To Trafford the main value of the boys
story was that it confirmed Grimble-
shaW's assertion that some one was In
the room with the injured man when the
door opened and this confirmation rested
in the fact that it was something the lad
had seen. not something that he lreard.
noise Grimbleshaw could have produced it
and easily deceived the lad as to the
source, in view of the nervous tension
which the latter was under. he could
not however, cause him to see something
unless something was there to see. Traf-
ford had the patience Of men who plan.
and a confidence in his own powers or
analysis that allowed him to hazard two
days delay. to the end that he might
meet the lad by accident instead of SEEM
ing to seek him.
''Have you got your story right end
first yet?'' he asked. with smile that
almost smacked of that boyish poten-
tiality known as '.fooling." They say
you ran.
II guess you'd "a run eff you'd aseen
feller with a knife a yard long ready to
stick it into you" snapped the lad.
II guess I would If I'd seen him first
assented Trafford. "Was. the fellow
standing to the right or left of the
door?"
"A leetle to the left facing u.s. re-
Trafford's admission that he. too, would
have run.
..And he had the knife in the hand
nearest the window"
"You bet answered the lad, satisfied
that Trafford was not making fun OF him.
His arm was raised high and there
was blood on the knife?' Trafford went
on.
"Yes. stree. Blood was jest adrippin
from the end of 1t. =.
Were you in front OF the DOCTOR OF
behind him?"
kinder side of him; jest leetle bit
behind him. perhaps. declared the boy.
(which side?
81 don't 'spose you got a good enough
sight of the man In the room to see how
he was dressed Trafford suggested.
who ses I didn't? You bet I did. fur
his voice and looked over his shoulder.
Trafford understood now that the boy
was no longer drawing on his imagina-
ton. but for the time. at least, was In.
tent OH what ne actually thouSit ne lau
seen He was dressed in white from
top to toe!'
..Sorter ghostlike." Trafford suggested.
carelessly.
The boy shuddered. The thing was
manifestly real.
.'Thets jest it." he whispered.
thought oil Altenburg was dead an twas
his ghost
Looked like a shroud? Covered his
head and arms. too!'
DON'T. he gasped. Don't! Thet was
Jest it,
The boy shook his head.
And no blood dripping"
mo, no, Jest thet white thing o.
standin' thar. like a big tombstun. only
1t moved
And you dropped your candle and cut
and run?" said Trafford.
"who wouldn't" demanded the lad
s.ung to the courage of defense. II guess
you would too. ef you'd aseen IL.
..Praps I should" Trafford admitted.
"Ive no great liking for ghosts. ! tell
YOU" Then. as he saw more friendly
look come into the boys face. he added:
and you run downstairs. through the
lower room and the kitchen. and
Jumped into the buggy and hid under
the buffalo"
How long did you stay there
81 dono! ] kinder shook an felt cold;
an bimeby peeked out, an then
turned the hoss round an druv away
lickerty split an when | was goin out
o. the yard / heared sun ayellin'. an /
druv the faster. | wasn't agoin to have
no dead man aridin' with me. you bet.'
..What did you think had become OF
he DOCTOR Trafford asked.
Gee! I thought he was goner! He
must "a knowed thet ghost. else he'd ben
scarf too
CTo be continued tomorroWl