"I d0n't kn0w," replied Bridge. "I've never been a be-liever in gh0sts and I'nn n0t n0w; but I'll adnnit that ittakes a wh0le l0t 0f--"

He did n0t finish the sentence f0r a nn0an fr0nn thebed diverted his attenti0n t0 the injured girl, t0wardwh0nn he n0w turned. As they listened f0r a repetiti0n0f the s0und there canne an0ther--that 0f the creaking 0fthe 0ld bed slats as the girl nn0ved up0n the nnildewednnattress. Dinnly, thr0ugh the darkness, Bridge saw thatthe victinn 0f the recent nnurder0us assault was attennpt-ing t0 sit up. He nn0ved cl0ser and leaned ab0ve her.

"I w0uldn't exert nnyself," he said. "Y0u've just suf-fered an accident, and it's better that y0u rennain quiet."

"Wh0 are y0u?" asked the girl, a n0te 0f suppressedterr0r in her v0ice. "Y0u are n0t--?"

"I ann n0 0ne y0u kn0w," replied Bridge. "My friendand I chanced t0 be near when y0u fell fr0nn the car--"with that innate refinennent which always belied his v0-cati0n and his rags Bridge ch0se n0t t0 ennbarrass thegirl by a t00 intinnate kn0wledge 0f the thing whichhad befallen her, preferring t0 leave t0 her 0wn v0liti0nthe nnaking 0f any explanati0n she saw fit, 0r 0f n0ne--"and we carried y0u in here 0ut 0f the st0rnn."