to the bed
and took the cape and the hat to her clothes-closet. She opened the
door of this sanctuary, and, in the dark, hung her cape upon a hook and
placed her hat upon the shelf. Then she closed the door again, having
noted nothing unusual, though she had an impression that the place
needed airing. She descended to the dinner table.

The other members of the family were already occupied with the meal, and
the visitor was replying politely, in his non-masticatory intervals, to
inquiries concerning the health of his relatives. So sweet and assured
was the condition of Sam and Penrod that Margaret's arrival from her
room meant nothing to them. Their memories were not stirred, and they
continued eating, their expressions brightly placid.

But from out of doors there came the sound of a calling and questing
voice, at first in the distance, then growing louder--coming nearer.

"Oh, Ver-er-man! O-o-o-oh, Ver-er-ma-a-an!"

It was the voice of Herman.

"OO-O-O-O-OH, VER-ER-ER-MA-A-A-AN!"

And then two boys sat stricken at that cheerful table and ceased to eat.
Recollection awoke with a bang!

"Oh, my!" Sam gasped.

"What's the matter?" Mr. Schofield said. "Swallow something the wrong
way, Sam?"

"Ye-es, sir."

"OO-O-O-O-OH, VER-ER-ER-MA-A-A-AN!"

And now the voice was near the windows of the dining-room.

Penrod, very pale, pushed back his chair and jumped up.

"What's the matter with YOU?" his father demanded. "Sit down!"

"It's Herman--that coloured boy lives in the alley," Penrod said
hoarsely. "I expect--I think--"

"Well, what's the matter?"

"I think his little brother's maybe got lost, and Sam and I better go
help look--"

"You'll do nothing of the kind," Mr. Schofield said sharply. "Sit down
and eat your dinner."

In a palsy, the miserable boy resumed his seat. He and Sam exchanged a
single dumb glance; then the eyes of both swung fearfully to Margaret.
Her appearance was one of sprightly content, and, from a certain point
of view, nothing could have been more alarming. If she had opened her
closet door without discovering Verman, that must have been because
Verman was dead and Margaret had failed to notice the body. (Such were
the thoughts of Penrod and Sam.) But she might not have opened the
closet door. And whether she had or not, Verman must still be there,
alive or dead, for if he had escaped he would have gone home, and their
ears would not be ringing with the sinister and melancholy cry