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nsiderable time to fathom it had the pebble-shooter's aim not proved to be remarkably good. It struck the "ghost" on the head. Of course even Helen could not follow the pebble through the air with her eyes, nor could she see where it struck, but other unmistakable evidence informed her as to the trueness of her aim and the effect of the blow. A sharp thud informed her that she had hit something of substantial resistance, and the next bit of evidence broke the spell for the other girls with a realization of what had taken place. The "ghost" wavered and seemed about to topple over, at the same time emitting a groan of pain which proved him to be thoroughly human. Helen was frightened, but there was a new kind of awe in this fright. All suggestion of superstition had left her and in its place was the dread that she might have killed a man. The latter dread, however, was soon dispelled. The "ghost" did not fall. He staggered, it is true--evidently the pain of the blow had stunned him considerably; but he managed to put speed into his pace, although the evidence of his suffering was even greater after he began to run. In a minute he disappeared in the darkness of the timber. "My! that was a good shot, Helen," Ethel Zimmerman exclaimed. "And he will surely wear some lump on his head for some time to come." "I was afraid I pulled too hard," Helen replied with a sigh of relief; "and, believe me, I'd rather be scared by a ghost several times over than with the prospect of having a murder record." "Who is he?--have you any idea?" Violet asked. "Can't you guess?" Helen answered. "Isn't he someone connected with the Graham family?" "What was he trying to do--scare us?" Julietta inquired, addressing the question as much to herself as to anybody else. "I should imagine something of the kind, although he may be the crazy man the Graham girls spoke about," said Helen. "I don't believe there is any such person," Miss Ladd volunteered at this point. "Then why did they suggest such an idea?" Violet questioned. "I don't know, unless it was to frighten us," the Guardian replied. "Frighten us away from here," Harriet supplemented. "Exactly," said Helen. "That's my theory of the affair. Don't you remember what Glen Irving said just before Addie Graham put in her appearance and cut short our interview with the boy?" "He said something about ghosts," Harriet recalled. "Not about ghosts, but _a_ ghost," Helen c
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