"
"Is that the house in there?"
"Suah, you ought for to know dat. Tain't changed none, 'cept run down
a bit, far as I know. Here am your grips, sah."
We had no sooner alighted than he wheeled his team, and departed,
whipping the horses into a run. I felt her hand grip my sleeve, and
glanced aside into her face.
"Frightened?" I asked, endeavoring to speak easily. "Don't let that
fellow bother you; surely you do not believe in spooks?"
"No," her voice trembling, "but it is all so desolate. I--I wish we
had waited until daylight."
"Well, frankly, so do I," I responded, "but the thought comes too late.
There is nothing left us but to try the house; we cannot pass the night
out here."
"No, oh, no!"
"Then come on," and I picked up the suit cases. "We will probably be
laughing at ourselves in five minutes. You will have to unlatch the
gate."
It was held in place by a sagging rope, but opened noiselessly, and we
advanced onto a brick walk, so little used as to be half hidden by
weeds growing in the crevices. The moon dimly revealed rank vegetation
on either side, while ahead, beneath the tree shadows, the darkness was
profound. There was no sound, no faintest gleam of light to indicate
the house, and I was compelled to advance cautiously to keep to the
path, which apparently wound about in the form of a letter "S.
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