Billy wheeled like a flash. A light of dazzling brilliancy shone for an instant, and in the smaller room, through the doorway of which they gazed as though transfixed, floated a gossamer of unholy, blue smoke. Then, before the instant became an æon, they saw rise, as though from the very heart of the dazzle, the upper-half of a white, shrouded form. One arm waved sweepingly toward them. Before the æon died an unearthly screech rent the silence, followed by a scuffle and thug as both youths rushed down the stairs. They sped into the road and the deep shadows of the woods swallowed them. V Blindfolded, Kerwin had seen nothing, but the dazzle had pierced the covering of his eyes and he had felt the light, and he had _heard_. His head was like thistle-down borne on the wings of a zephyr. He attempted to move, to call out. A deadly nausea overcame him. He realized that he was fainting. Then, of a sudden, his melting senses took form again, as he heard a familiar voice cry: "Kerwin, old chap!... By Jove! We'll fool 'em yet, if you hurry!" And at that the handkerchief was torn from his eyes and he looked up blinking into the beaming countenance of Norse. Norse did not wait to explain. He cut the twine binding his friend's hands and flung down the satchel within the circle of the lantern light. "What are you looking at?" he asked, tersely, stooping to open the bag and noting Kerwin's steady gaze fixed upon him. "_For Heaven's sake what have you got on!_" "What ... got ..." And Norse burst out laughing. "What have I got on?" he cried. "I've got on your dress-shirt---- Made me look more like a ghost." He whipped the garment off. "And now you get into it just as quick as you can!" he added. For a brief moment a light of puzzlement lingered in Kerwin's eyes. "Here's the collar and tie." Norse handed them to him. "And here's your dress-suit---- You see I overheard them talking it over---- I looked for you---- Then I came out here---- I'd a box of flash-light powder in my pocket---- That's all. I thought it was all up when they heard the satchel click. You see I'd opened it to get out your shirt. I had to put a good deal of trust in Providence!..." "But Norsey...." "Never mind talking! Hustle, man! Hustle!" "I know, but...." "There; there are your trousers.... Freeze if it wasn't for that stove, eh? Thoughtful of them, wasn't it? Here's your vest! What's the matter? Can't you button your collar? Scott, man, you've got to hustle! Touched her off just the right time, eh? Worked themselves all up talking about that other haunted.... Here's your coat! Say, you've got to hustle to make it; there's not over twenty minutes to spare!..." "But, Norsey, it's no use. I can't get back to town in twenty minutes. Why, it will take two hours, walking over that crust...." "You're not going to walk.--Gad! Here, let me tie that bow for you! Say, but you've got to hustle!..." "Not going to walk! You don't mean to say you've got a carriage...."