.

"Here you are," said Tom. "Go inside if you wish."

Carl took the key.

"I'll not be long," he said, as he put it in the lock. It turned with
difficulty, and as he pushed the nail-studded old oak door open there
was a cool, damp, vault-like smell.

"Reckon you'll come out quick enough," said Tom. "Best be careful;
there's some old broken steps lead down under the moat--a dungeon or
summat's there." He swore as his foot slipped and he almost fell into
the water.

"That's a sure sign we're not wanted here," said Tom gloomily.

Carl smiled and went inside. It was a curious, gruesome place, and the
dank air was stifling. He climbed the stone steps upward until he came
to a small room. The walls were bare but there were a bed and chairs
and tables, all of oak, an iron ring in the wall, a rusty chain, and a
padlock of huge size lay on the stone floor, unlocked. The slit in the
wall gave enough light to see. Carl stood on a chair and looked out.
He saw Tom, waved his hand, but there was no response.

"He can't see me," thought Carl. "It's strange; he's looking straight
here."

There were more stairs. At the top he found another room exactly
similar to the one below, furnished in the same bare way. In one
corner he saw something gray. Examining it, it proved to be a flimsy
gauze-like wrap; it was not old, nor torn. There was a white cloth,
also a pair of soft slippers.

"The ghost's attire," thought Carl. "Somebody comes here and frightens
people. Wonder what for? Probably to scare 'em away for some purpose
of his, or her, own. This is interesting."

He replaced the garment, letting it fall and arranging it as nearly as
possible as he found it. He went down again, feeling the wall as he
descended. It was damp; drops stood out, burst and trickled down. He
found the stone steps leading to the dungeon under the moat; they were
smooth, broken in places. He was careful in stepping; a slip and he
might be landed at the bottom with a sprained ankle, a broken leg, or
worse. It was a slippery descent; once or twice he fell down; but he
intended seeing what was at the bottom and at last succeeded.

The dark dungeon had a curious odor in it, probably due to the water
and lack of fresh air; but there was a scent undefinable as well. He
struck a match; it went out immediately, just as though somebody, or
something, had blown upon it. He was not a nervous man, but when the
second and third match went