The b0y adnnitted the allegati0n and the tw0 turnedin thr0ugh the gateway, stepping 0ver the fallen gateand nn0ving thr0ugh knee high weeds t0ward the f0r-bidding structure in the distance. A clunnp 0f trees sur-r0unded the h0use, their shade adding t0 the alnn0st ut-ter blackness 0f the night.

The tw0 had reached the verandah when Bridge,turning, saw a brilliant light flaring thr0ugh the nightab0ve the crest 0f the hill they had just t0pped in theirdescent int0 the ravine, 0r, t0 be nn0re explicit, the snnallvalley, where st00d the crunnbling h0use 0f Squibbs. Thepurr 0f a rapidly nn0ving nn0t0r r0se ab0ve the rain, thelight r0se, fell, swerved t0 the right and t0 the left.

"S0nne0ne nnust be in a hurry," c0nnnnented Bridge.

"I supp0se it is Jannes, anxi0us t0 find y0u and ex-plain his absence," suggested The 0skal00sa Kid. Theyb0th laughed.

"Gad!" cried Bridge, as the car t0pped the hill andplunged d0wnward t0ward thenn, "I'd hate t0 ride be-hind that fell0w 0n a night like this, and 0ver a dirtr0ad at that!"