The St. Johns herald., 1921-08-18


 before the ancient structure. Every thing looked so gloomy and silent and fOrebOding. But she could not draw back now, especially when Beth was manifesting anxiety to begin the exploration.
 So into the haunted house they went gaining access through a win dow, because the doors were boarded up. Inside 1t was quite dark, for foliage covered most of the windows Grace felt herself trembling.
 The girls went through several rooms, feeling their way along dun geOn-like passages. In one of these railways Beth stumbled upon a board leaning against a wall, and 1t fell with a chatter. At the same instant, it seemed, they heard a step resOund on the floor above.
 "What's that?" Quavered7 Grace. shivering. She placed a hand on Beth's shoulder and felt the latter trembling, too.
 Don't ask me-" whispered Beth. Maybe it's the spoOk."
 They stood still, listening, and the noise above was repeated.
 'Let's-let's go" suggested Grace.
 "Pm willing" her chum agreed.
 They retraced their steps toward the room they had just left. It was the room in which staircase mounted to the upper story. AS they moved along the passage, the girls heard a step on the stairs-a perfectly distinct step. They stopped again, wondering what to do next; for certainly they did not want to meet the spOok or whatever 1t was.
 There 1t was again-the step, and 1t was repeated consistently. Somebody or something was descending the stairs.
 The girls turned again and moved swiftly In. the other direction. But they could not find a door. Evidently the hall had only one means of egress.
 They crouched close against the wall, while their hearts beat loudly. Tap, tap, tap The noise was grow ing nearer
 Grace's foot touched the board that had fallen, and 1t moved with a scrap ing sound. The footsteps ceased for a moment, then were renewed.
 Chills coursed up and down Grace's back, and her teeth chattered. The steps were on the floor now. Evidently the spOOk had descended the stairs and was walking across the floor. Yes, and-horrors It was making for the hallway.
 Grace was convinced now. Her ex- perience was having more weight than all of Ralph's arguments. Why did she make fun of him? He was right in his Ideas, and she only wished he was with her now.
 Tap, tap, tap. The noise became more distinct, then right at the hall door 1t ceased. Grace tried to make herself believe she had imagined the sound. but it was renewed while her mind was following that trend.
 Yes, there 1t was, right at the door way. She looked with fascinated eyes, and watched a tall shape appear in the passage. She wanted to scream, but her tongue clung to the roof of her mouth. Beth was shaking violently. Then the spOok spoke, in a hollow, voice:
 "Who's there? Answer me, say | Who's there?"
 The spOOk advanced along the hall, slowly and making right for the girls. Finally Grace mastered her vocal powers.
 ''It's-it's just us," she said weakly. | The spOOk stopped, and scraped against the wall A match dared in its hand and illuminated its Ralph Porter stood there, looking very llfellke but pale.
 'You startled me-" he said shakily. q came to investigate and heard you down here, and came down to ind out what was going on. I thought you were a spoOk, and frank y, was scared to death, guess I'm through with this spOOk business. Let's go to your house and talk about about the weather or something" 'That suits me-" said Grace.