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"I can't find a scratch on her," he said at last "She's suffering froe Say, she's pretty, isn't she?"

The youth drew himself rather stiffly erect "Her features are rather coarse, I think," he replied There was a peculiar quality to the tone which caused Bridge to turn a quick look at the boy's face, just as the match flickered and went out The darkness hid the expression upon Bridge's face, but his conviction that the girl was pretty was unaltered The light of the match had revealed an oval face surrounded by dark, dishevelled tresses, red, full lips, and large, dark eyes

Further discussion of the young wo of the chain without Noas receding along the hallway toward the stairs and presently, to the infinite relief of The Oskaloosa Kid, the two heard it descending to the lower floor

"What was it, do you think?" asked the boy, his voice still tree of hysteria

"I don't know," replied Bridge "I've never been a believer in ghosts and I'm not now; but I'll admit that it takes a whole lot of--"

He did not finish the sentence for a irl, tohom he now turned As they listened for a repetition of the sound there cairl h the darkness, Bridge saw that the victi to sit up He moved closer and leaned above her

"I wouldn't exert myself," he said "You've just suffered an accident, and it's better that you reirl, a note of suppressed terror in her voice "You are not--?"

"I ae "My friend and I chanced to be near when you fell from the car--" with that innate refinee chose not to e which had befallen her, preferring to leave to her own volition theof any explanation she saw fit, or of none--"and we carried you in here out of the storirl was silent for a moment "Where is 'here'?" she asked presently "They drove so fast and it was so dark that I had no idea where ere, though I know that we left the turnpike"