toward the newly discovered building, in which
not a single light was to be seen.

"In good sooth," Phoebe exclaimed, putting one hand on her sister's
arm, "it hath an air of witchcraft! Dost not feel cold chills in thee,
Rebecca?"

Rebecca stopped short, stiff with amazement.

"What's come over ye?" she asked, trying to peer into her sister's face.
"Whatever makes ye talk like that, child?"

Phoebe laughed nervously and, taking her sister's arm, pressed close
up to her.

"I don't know, dear. Did I speak funny?" she asked.

"Why you know you did. What's the use o' tryin' to scare a body with
gibberish? This place is creepy 'nough now."

As she spoke, they reached the door of the strange building. They could
see that it stood open, and even as they paused near the threshold
another puff of air passed them, and they heard a door squeak on its
rusty hinges.

They stood and listened breathlessly, peering into the dark interior
whence there was borne to their nostrils a musty odor. A large bat
whisked across the opening, and as they started back alarmed he returned
with swift zig-zag cuts and vanished ghostlike into the house.

"It's deserted," whispered Rebecca.

"Perhaps it's haunted," Phoebe replied.

"Well, we needn't go in, I guess," said Rebecca, turning from the door
and starting briskly away. "Come on this way, Phoebe--look out fer the
trees--lands! Did y'ever see so many?"

A few steps brought them to a high brick wall, against which flowers,
weeds, and vines grew rank together. They followed this wall, walking
more rapidly, for the day was breaking in earnest and groping was
needless now. Presently they came to a spot where the wall was broken
away, leaving an opening just broad enough to admit a man's body.
Rebecca squeezed boldly through and Phoebe followed her, rather for
company's sake than with any curiosity to see what was beyond.

They found themselves in a sort of open common, stretching to the edge
of a broad roadway about a hundred yards from where they stood. On the
other side of the road a cluster of gabled cottages was visible against
the faint rose tint of the eastern sky.

As Phoebe came to her sister's side, she clutched her arm excitedly:

"Rebecca!" she exclaimed. "'Tis Newington, as true as I live! Newington
and Blackman Street!"

Suddenly she sat down in the grass and hid her face in her hands.

"What d'ye mean?" said Rebecca, looking down at her sister with a
puzzled expre