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The stranger halted Oncefor a stroll," re out to your country place? Isn't there danger of skidding on these wet roads at night? I told James, just before we started, to be sure to see that the chains were on all around; but he forgot the so and I had to start out alone, and he knows perfectly well that I detest driving after dark in the rain"

The youth found hi His fear had suddenly vanished No one could harbor suspicion of the owner of that cheerful voice

"I didn't knohich road to take," he ventured, in explanation of his presence at the cross road

"Oh," exclai for this fork and cao since I came this way; but I recall a deserted house about a mile up the dirt road It will shelter us from the inclemencies of the weather"

"Oh!" cried the youth "Now I knohere I am In the dark and the stor seee land; but I kno Yes, there is a deserted house a little less than a ht They tell sohtful stories about it It hasn't been occupied for over twenty years--not since the Squibbs were found hter They never discovered the murderer, and the house has stood vacant and the farm unworked al it; but they didn't stay long A night or so was enough for the as a little--er--child stories of the frightful things that happened there in the house where the Squibbs were hts were out Oh, I wouldn't even pass that place on a night like this"

The ht about a year ago," he said "I didn't see or hear anything unusual Such stories are ridiculous; and even if there was a little truth in the out in the storhostly hospitality of the Squibbs Better come with me"