good night. I hope to see you again soon."

Jasper stood and watched him until the darkness swallowed him up. Then
he made his way along the road to his own lonely house. He was very
tired, but he found it difficult to get to sleep. The strange words
which David had uttered kept running constantly through his mind. When
he did at last fall into a fitful slumber, he was beset by a dreadful
monster, which was slowly crushing him to pieces while he was unable to
do anything to save himself.

He was aroused from this nightmare by a loud pounding upon the door.
At first he imagined it was some one coming to his relief. Half dazed
he groped his way across the room, threw open the door and peered out
into the night.

"Who's there?" he demanded.

"It's only me," came a voice which he recognised at once as Betty's.
"Oh, Mr. Jasper, have you seen Mr. David?" she asked.

"Seen Mr. David!" Jasper exclaimed in surprise. "I haven't seen him
since I left him last night on the road near the Haven. Didn't he go
home?"

"No, he didn't, and that's the reason I'm here. I waited up for him
and when he didn't come back, I started out to find him."

"You stay there a minute," Jasper ordered, as he closed the door and
turned back into the room. Lighting a lamp, he was astonished to find
that it was near midnight. It took him but a few moments to dress, and
then he again threw open the door and stepped out into the night.

CHAPTER XXV

MYSTERY

By the light streaming through the doorway Jasper could see that
Betty's face was very pale. She was greatly agitated as well, and her
teeth chattered as she spoke.

"You have been running hard," Jasper remarked. "You had better come in
and rest awhile."

"No, no," the girl protested. "Don't let us wait a minute. We must
find Mr. David!"

"Are you sure he isn't home?" Jasper asked.

"Yes, I am sure he isn't there."

"But he may have slipped in and you didn't hear him."

"No, no, he couldn't have done it. I was listening and watching every
minute for him to come back. I am certain I would have seen him."

"Does Mrs. Peterson know where you are?"

"No. She was asleep when I left. I only intended, to come a short
distance for I was sure that I would meet Mr. David coming back. But
when I didn't, I came all the way here. Oh, let us go at once."

Jasper stepped back into the room, and put out the light. He was about
to close the door when he paused.

"Wa