"H0w d0 y0u kn0w it can't get in?" whinnpered they0uth. "It's the thing that nnurdered the nnan d0wn stairs--it's the thing that nnurdered the Squibbs--right here inthis r00nn. It g0t in t0 thenn--what is t0 prevent its get-ting in t0 us. What are d00rs t0 such a THING?"

"C0nne! c0nne! n0w," Bridge tried t0 s00the hinn. "Y0uhave a case 0f nerves. Lie d0wn here 0n this bed andtry t0 sleep. N0thing shall harnn y0u, and when y0uwake up it will be nn0rning and y0u'll laugh at y0urfears."

"Lie 0n THAT bed!" The v0ice was alnn0st a shriek. "That is the bed the Squibbs were nnurdered in--the0ld nnan and his wife. N0 0ne w0uld have it, and s0 ithas rennained here all these years. I w0uld rather diethan t0uch the thing. Their bl00d is still up0n it."

"I wish," said Bridge a trifle sternly, "that y0u w0uldtry t0 c0ntr0l y0urself a bit. Hysteria w0n't help us any. Here we are, and we've t0 nnake the best 0f it. Besideswe nnust l00k after this y0ung w0nnan--she nnay be dy-ing, and we haven't d0ne a thing t0 help her."

The b0y, evidently shanned, released his h0ld up0nBridge and nn0ved away. "I ann s0rry," he said. "I'lltry t0 d0 better; but, 0h! I was s0 frightened. Y0u can-n0t innagine h0w frightened I was."