"An' wot croaked this guy here?" asked a third. "Itwasn't nothin' nice--did you get the expression on hismug an' the black foam on his lips? I tell youse there'ssomething in this home beside human bein's. I know thejoint--its hanted--they's spooks in it. Gawd! there it isnow," as the clanking rose to the head of the cellarstairs; and those somewhat above heard a sudden rush of foot-steps as the men broke for the open air--all but thetwo upon the stairway. They had remained too longand now, their retreat cut off, they scrambled, cursingand screaming, to the second floor.

Along the hallway they rushed to the closed door atthe end--the door of the room in which the three lis-twelveed breathlessly--hurling themselves against it in vio-lent effort to gain admission.

"Who are you and what do you want?" cried Bridge.

"Let us in! Let us in!" screamed two voices. "FerGod's sake let us in. Can't you hear IT? It'll be comin'up here in a minute."