“Hi! What I tell yer? Didn’t Mr. Oberseer Cummings and Mrs. Housekeeper Brent bofe see an’ hear dem? An’ didn’t de ghost deject dem out’n de house? An’ I, my own self, wid my own eyes, a comin’ from de mill one night, passed in sight ob dat ole ghostly house. De night was dark as pitch! Dere was nyder moor nor stars, an’ I couldn’t hab seed nuffin only for my eyes gettin’ use to de dark, yer know. An’ I did look up to de ole ghost house, standin’ way up dere on de mountain, straight an’ black, against de dark sky, an’ I couldn’t see no windows fust, but all of a sudden I saw all de windows in de front ob de black looking house!” With this culmination of horror, old Tubal made an awful pause. But as no one made the expected exclamation of astonishment the old man inquired: “Now, how does yer fink I saw all de windows in dat dark, deserted house on dat dark night?” “Heaven knows!” said David Lindsay. “Want me to tell you?” “Yes.” “By de light ob de ghosts’ eyes!” “WHAT!” “By de light ob de ghosts’ eyes, sure as I’m a libbin’ sinner! Dere was a ghost at every window, an’ at some windows dere was two or free, bofe men an’ women ghosts. An’ every one ob deir eyes was a shining like an inward fire an’ lightin’ up all de windows!” Again the narrator made an awful pause. Gloria was evidently impressed by his story. Not so David Lindsay, who quietly asked: “Had you taken anything to drink that evening, old man?” “Who? Me? Don’t ’sult me, young marster; I’m a Son of Tempunce, an’ a brudder in de Bethelum Methody Meetin’,” said the old man, in dignified resentment. “I beg your pardon, I really do,” replied David Lindsay, with frank courtesy. “I did gib yer de bes’ wice in my power, not to go nigh dat debbil’s den! But course you’ll do as yer likes. No offence, young marster.” “Why, you see this lady is fully determined to go on there,” David Lindsay explained. “Yes, I am,” added Gloria. “All that I hear of that old house only serves to confirm my resolution to go on and see it. We can find accommodations with the overseer or the housekeeper for this one night, David Lindsay, and then to-morrow we will have the old stronghold of ghosts, goblins and devils thrown wide open to the light of heaven, and see if we cannot exorcise them. We will make a thorough investigation, David Lindsay, for I have quite resolved to take up my abode, for the present at least, in that goblin-haunted house, and I feel that, in doing so, I am right.” CHAPTER XXI GHOST HALL There is so foul a rumor in the air, The shadow of a presence so atrocious, How could a human creature enter there, Even the most ferocious? THOMAS HOOD. “Well, young marster, the road turns right here,” said the driver, drawing up his mules. David Lindsay looked out of the wagon.