e! And
there's no end of 'em! And it means--somethin' terr'ble! I wish--do
you suppose--Ain't there a winder some'ers nigh? Is this Hall high up?
Could I--could I climb out it?"

The poor little widow was growing very nervous herself. Her
companion's positive terror was infecting her and she felt that if
this were her promised "fun" she'd had quite enough of it, and would
be as glad as he to desert the gathering.

Suddenly the movement changed. The slowly circling ghosts fell into
step with the altered music, which, still a wailing minor, grew fast
and faster, until with a crash its mad measure ended. At that instant,
and before the lights were turned on, came another most peculiar
sound. It was like the patter of small hoofs, the "ih-ih-ihing" of
some terrified beast; and all ears were strained to listen while
through those open doors came bounding and leaping, as if to escape
its own self--What?

From her perch on Dr. Winston's knees, Miss Millikins-Pillikins
identified it as:

"The debbil! The debbil!"

Old John sprang to his feet and shrieked, while, as if attracted by
his cry, the horrible object made straight for him and with one
vicious thrust of its dreadful head knocked him down.

CHAPTER VIII

PEER AND COMMONER

The lights flashed out. The ghostly wrappings fell from the figures
which had been halted by the sudden apparition that had selected poor
John Gilpin as its victim, though, in knocking him down it had knocked
common sense back into his head. For as he lay sprawled on the floor
the thrusts of that demoniac head continued and now, instead of
frightening, angered him. For there was something familiar in the
action of his assailant. Recovering his breath, he sat up and seized
the horns that were prodding his Sunday suit, and yelled:

"Quit that, Baal, you old rascal! Dressin' up like the Old Boy, be ye?
Well, you never could ha' picked out a closer fit! But I'll strip ye
bare--you cantankerous old goat, you Baal!"

Away flew the mask of the evil spirit which some ingenious hand had
fastened to the animal's head, and up rose such a shout of laughter as
made the great room ring. The recent "ghosts" swarmed about the pair,
still in masks and costumes, and a lively chase of Baal followed.

The goat had broken away from the irate old man, as soon as might be,
and John had risen stiffly to his feet. But his bashfulness was past.
Also, his lameness was again forgotten, as one masquerader af