to suggest that nature was helping him to meet the
odds against him in the old house down the road. He glanced at his
watch. It was not yet quite five, but certainly there was darkness
enough for his purposes. He could safely take the car into the side wood
road near The Cedars, and leave it there among the trees until he needed
it. He handed Burke his final offering, the size of which wholly
dispelled that philosopher's pessimistic forebodings. Jumping into his
car, he backed it out into the storm.

"Hey, there! what about these clo'es?" demanded Burke, indicating with a
thumb the abandoned heap of garments in the office.

"Eat 'em," briefly advised the occupant of the disappearing car. Burke
shook his head. Garage men are used to hectic human types and strange
happenings, but this particular type and incident were new to Burke. He
was also interested in the discovery that the young fella wasn't going
to New York, now that his joke was played. He was going straight up the
road, in the wrong direction, and driving like the devil. Well, anyway,
Burke had made a tidy bit on that joke, whatever it was. Gazing
affectionately at the latest crisp bill, he thought of his wife and the
seventh, and nobly decided to forgive them both.

Laurie, his hot head cooled by the storm that beat against him, raced
through the gathering darkness. He had the road to himself. In weather
like this no one was abroad who could stay at home. He turned off into
the country road, already deep in snow-drifts, and swept on, through the
little wood whose leafless birches now looked unfamiliar, even spectral,
in the increasing gloom. Save for the soft purr of his engine, his
progress made no sound. He drove as far as he dared, then stopped the
car off the road, in a clear space among the trees, and continued his
way on foot. He must leave the car there, and take the chance of having
it discovered. In the storm and darkness that chance seemed very remote.

He plunged on toward the house, knee-deep, now, in the drifts that swept
across the narrow road. Soon the building was visible in its somber
setting, and as he stared at its dim outlines his heart leaped. In the
right-hand corner, on the second floor, a light showed faintly through
drawn shades. The sight filled him with an overwhelming relief. Until he
saw it, he had not realized how great his inner panic had been. He
stopped, drew a deep breath, and stood staring up at it.

The rest of the house