But what Mr. Callister might have almost thought was destined never to find expression in words, for, at that moment, his companion pressing his hand to his forehead, reeled heavily forward and would have fallen again had not the broker caught him in his arms. "Rube, for Heaven's sake," he exclaimed, "what on earth ails you, man? One would take you for a nervous woman instead of the man you are from the way you act. Here, drink this. It will put some heart in you, and then we'll search this old barn together. If there is a ghost in it, I'll warrant you I'll have it out." He passed a whisky flask to the trembling Tisdale, who pressed it to his lips. "There, do you feel better?" "Yes, somewhat, but I'm as weak as a rat still." "Well, then, come along. I'm bound to see this out." Striding toward the bedstead, he seized hold of the headboard and tried to move it out into the center of the room. Weak and decayed before, this action proved too much for the dilapidated piece of furniture. With a loud crash it fell a mass of broken rubbish to the floor, causing Tisdale to spring back with a startled cry. "Confound the old trap!" exclaimed Callister. "But one thing is settled--what we saw is neither under it nor behind it, that is clear. Where the mischief it could have found means to hide beats me. The door is locked, and the rest of the room is all clear before us. There is no place in which a cat could lie concealed." He flung open the door of the closet as he spoke. It was empty. Nothing but a heap of dust met his gaze. "Come," he said, shortly, picking up the lantern and producing the key from his pocket; "there are rooms below and above. Let us examine them all, and see if we can find trace of her ghostship there." He unlocked the door and led the way out into the deserted hall. To the right and left opened other doors, connecting with the various chambers upon the floor. Opening each in turn, Callister and his companion examined the rooms in silence. One was a large guest chamber, containing various articles of antique furniture; another was a small bedroom, entirely vacant, and another still a bath-room, filled with rubbish of various kinds. In neither one nor the other was there the slightest trace of the form of the woman which had appeared before them, nor evidence that the dust which covered everything had been disturbed for years. Nor was their examination of the floor above better rewarded. Here piles of old lumber were found, broken furniture, boxes, and bales. Evidently years had passed since this portion of the house had been occupied. From the appearance presented there could be little doubt that it had been used for storage purposes by its miserly owner, who met death by violence on the floor below. The parlor floor, the kitchen, and even the cellar itself, did not escape examination. Equally to no purpose. Some of the rooms were furnished, others were not.