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Now Lustig was running swiftly, shouting He turned into a yard halfway down the shady street and leaped up upon the porch of a large green house with an iron rooster on the roof

He was beating at the door, hollering and crying, when Hinkston and the captain ran up behind hi, exhausted fro

Two old people stood in the doorway

"David!" their voices piped, and they rushed out to embrace and pat him on the back and move around hirown, boy; how big you are, boy Oh, David boy, how are you?"

"Grand "You look fine, fine!" He held theed the at the little old people The sun was in the sky, the wind blew, the grass was green, the screen door stood wide

"Come in, boy, come in There's iced tea for you, fresh, lots of it!"

"I've got friends here" Lustig turned and waved at the captain and Hinkston frantically, laughing "Captain, come on up"

"Howdy," said the old people "Come in Any friends of David's are our friends too Don't stand there!"

In the living roorandfather clock ticked high and long and bronzed in one corner There were soft pillows on large couches and walls filled with books and a rug cut in a thick rose pattern, and iced tea in the hand, sweating, and cool on the thirsty tongue

"Here's to our health" Grandlass to her porcelain teeth

"How long you been here, Grand

"Ever since we died," she said tartly

"Ever since you what?" Captain John Black set down his glass

"Oh yes" Lustig nodded "They've been dead thirty years"

"And you sit there calmly!" shouted the captain