“But you are so much better than in the city,” said Mrs. Little. “It is that alone which keeps me from wishing that I was back to the city once more.” Having decided to go to Basinburg, Joe lost no more time in making such preparations as she could for the visit, having really no idea of what good it could do. She hoped to find out what would be done with Rob, and that was incentive enough. She was ready to start in less than five minutes. She had very little change to make in her apparel, for the reason that, despite the desires of Rob, she had not allowed much to be bought for her. She did have a new print dress, a pair of shoes, and a straw hat. These she put on in place of her everyday clothes, and bidding the others be of good cheer until she returned, she started on a run toward the village. So rapidly did she go that inside of half an hour she came in sight of the village. The crowd about the store was larger than when Rob had been there, and the excitement was running higher than even. She learned that Rob had been put under close surveillance, and that the sheriff and his posse were searching for Gideon Bayne. At first nobody seemed to notice her, and then she began to attract attention, when sneering remarks were made, and she heard several suggest that it would be the proper thing to arrest her as one of a gang of outlaws and public enemies. She did not mind this as much as she would have done under ordinary circumstances. In her anxiety to learn what she could of Rob, she dared much, ay, jeopardized her own safety. She had become confident that no harm would be done him until another day, when he would be given a justice trial before being taken to jail. Determined to be present, she started homeward, happily unconscious that it had already been decided to arrest her, though she was not followed to her home. Incidentally she had learned that Deacon Cornhill had been demanded to meet his liabilities, and that he was about to sign over all his property to satisfy his creditors. These things were among those she told to her anxious friends at home, whom she found anxiously awaiting her coming. No new development had taken place since her departure, except that two or three men had been seen hovering about the house, who it was thought were spies who had been left by Sheriff Stanyan. So the occupants of the old red house saw the shades of night fall with dire misgivings. To make their situation more gloomy, threatenings of a storm appeared, and the wind moaned through the trees overhanging the back side of the building. “I shall go crazy,” declared Aunt Vinnie. At that moment Chick and Ruddy, their faces white with terror, burst into the room, exclaiming: “We have heard it ag’in! There are ghosts, and they are crying and moaning, ‘Murder! Murder!’” This announcement, given at this time, sent a thrill of horror through the frames of the little group, the most of whom shivered and remained silent.