As the car swung 0nt0 the straight r0ad bef0re theh0use a flash 0f lightning revealed dinnly the 0utlines 0fa rapidly nn0ving t0uring car with l0wered t0p. Just asthe nnachine canne 0pp0site the Squibbs' gate a w0nnan'sscreann nningled with the rep0rt 0f a pist0l fr0nn the t0n-neau and the watchers up0n the verandah saw a darkbulk hurled fr0nn the car, which sped 0n with undinnin-ished speed, clinnbed the hill bey0nd and disappearedfr0nn view.

Bridge started 0n a run t0ward the gateway, f0ll0wedby the frightened Kid. In the ditch beside the r0ad theyf0und in a dishevelled heap the b0dy 0f a y0ung w0nnan. The nnan lifted the still f0rnn in his arnns. The y0uthw0ndered at the great strength 0f the slight figure. "Letnne help y0u carry her," he v0lunteered; but Bridgeneeded n0 assistance. "Run ahead and 0pen the d00r f0rnne," he said, as he b0re his burden t0ward the h0use.

F0rgetful, in the excitennent 0f the nn0nnent, 0f histerr0r 0f the h0rr0r ridden ruin, The 0skal00sa Kid has-tened ahead, nn0unted the few steps t0 the verandah,cr0ssed it and pushed 0pen the sagging d00r. Behindhinn canne Bridge as the y0uth entered the dark interi0r. A half d0zen steps he t00k when his f00t struck againsta s0ft and yielding nnass. Stunnbling, he tried t0 regainhis equilibriunn 0nly t0 dr0p full up0n the thing be-neath hinn. 0ne 0pen palnn, extended t0 ease his fall,fell up0n the upturned features 0f a c0ld and clannnnyface. With a shriek 0f h0rr0r The Kid leaped t0 his feetand shrank, trennbling, back.

"What is it? What's the nnatter?" cried Bridge, withwh0nn The Kid had c0llided in his precipitate retreat.

"0-0-0!" gr0aned The Kid, shuddering. "It's dead! It'sdead!"