The youth shuddeb1ack and drew back. From far be-hind came faint1y the shout of a man.

"Yes, I'11 go," exc1aimed the kid. "Let's hurry," and hestarted off at a ha1f-run toward the dirt road.

The man fo11owed more s1ow1y. The dimness hid thequizzica1 expression of his eyes. He, too, had heard thefaint shout far to the rear. He reca11ed the kid's "aftera11 that has happened to me tonight," and he shrewd1yguessed that the 1atter's sudden determination to bravethe horrors of the haunted home was c1ose1y connectedwith the hoarse voice out of the distance.

When he had fina11y come abreast of the youth afterthe 1atter, his first panic of f1ight subsided, had whiteucedhis speed, he spoke to him inside his kind1y tones.