“Wall, I’m Jim Simpson an’ this ere is my uncle Hank Small. We live up tew Concord an’ we’ve got tuckered out an’ thought mebbe we cud git yu to keep us until mornin’. We’re willin’ tu pay fer a nite’s lodgin’.” “That don’t count,” came back the same gruff voice. “We ain’t got no use fer strangers around hyar, I kin tell ye. Better move on!” “Wall, I must say ye’re mighty civil people tu try tu shoot us. I reckon I’ll send the constable down to see yu!” A savage curse came back. “Ye wouldn’t want to spend the night hyar if ye knew what sort of a house this is,” said the gruff speaker. “Eh?” retorted Harry. “What kind of a house is it? Dang me, but it looks big enuff for a hotel.” “Wall, it’s a hotel fast enuff. But it’s a hotel fer mad people!” Harry whistled shrilly. “Yu don’t say! Say, now, I’d like to see a mad pusson. Won’t ye let us take a look at one?” Fierce oaths greeted this request. “Go on yer way an’ leave this place as far behind ye as ye can, or it’ll be the wuss for ye.” “Durn it! But we’re all tuckered out. Take us in an’ give us a cup of suthin’ warm, anyway. Then we’ll go along.” “Ye’ll git somethin’ hotter nor ye want if ye fool around hyar too long. Now git out!” “All right!” replied Harry, in a disappointed voice. “I say!” came back the call. “Wall?” “Did ye cum up from Lexington?” “Yas!” “By ther highway?” “We did.” “Ah, did ye see anything of two men in a sleigh on the way?” “Oh, they turned back fer ther snow was too deep!” This reply seemed to have a peculiar effect upon the asylum people. A distant murmur was heard and then there came another hail. Meanwhile, Harry and Old King Brady had been holding a hurried consultation. On the way from Paine’s farm house they had effected a very clever disguise. They had borrowed some old coats, mufflers and hats of Farmer Paine. With the use of false beards and wigs they had easily made themselves up for countrymen of the most verdant kind. “What do you think?” whispered Harry. “Is our disguise good enough to risk a trip to the asylum if they finally decide to take us in?” Old King Brady hesitated. He knew that it would be like walking literally into a lion’s den. Discovery was of course possible and could mean nothing but death. But the daring old detective was ready to take any risk, however great, to gain a valuable end. So he replied: “We will take the chances.” At this moment the hail came again. “Hello, you rubes!” “Hello!” replied Harry. “Did ye give us a straight story about the two men in the sleigh?” “Dead straight!” “Do ye know who they were?” “Naw! Somebody down in Lexington said they wuz New York people, but they didn’t look tu me tu be stylish enuff.” At this a laugh came back. “Well, Simpson, you an’ your friend can come over an’ we’ll take a look at ye. Mebbe we can put ye up fer the night.” “Whoopla!” cried Harry. “We’re glad enuff of that an’ we’ll pay ye fur it.” “Don’t want no pay, see?” “All right!”