ent on Will. "That's the
ticket. Be sure your knots are firm."

"Yes, don't tie granny ones the way I did the night the _Gem_ got
adrift," murmured Grace.

The rope was soon fast to the wagon and backed-up auto.

"Go ahead slowly," cautioned Will. "We don't know what will give way
first, the horse or the wagon. Take it easy, Mollie."

Slowly the auto started. There came a strain on the rope. There was a
creaking to the old vehicle, and then it slowly began to emerge from the
mud. The old horse, who had almost gone to sleep, roused up at this
strange activity, and was literally forced to stir out of his tracks. In
a few seconds the wagon was on the firm road, the auto having pulled it
in a diagonal direction from the mud-hole.

"Thanks, ever so much!" exclaimed Jimmie. "I'm sure I can't thank you
enough. If ever you get stuck----"

"You'll pull us out!" finished Mollie.

"Not until Stamp is better able to do it," the boy answered with a
laugh. "But I'll do all I can."

"And so you didn't like Shadow Valley?" asked Will, as the boy made
ready to proceed on his way.

"No, it's too gloomy for me. Hardly anyone lives there."

"Did you see that big mansion up there?" asked Grace.

"The one that rich man built, you mean? Yes, I passed near it a while
ago. It's only about three miles from here. The grounds are pretty well
in ruins now, but the house is good."

"See anything strange about it?" asked Will.

"Strange? What do you mean?"

"Oh, well, I mean--er--any tramps in it--or anything like that?"

"No, not a thing," and Jimmie looked curiously at his questioner. "Well,
I must be going. No more muddy roads for me!"

The auto party took their places again, Betty succeeding Mollie at the
wheel, and Will being promised a chance later. Then they started off.

"Where are you going?" asked Grace, as Betty turned up a road on which
they seldom journeyed. "This doesn't take us anywhere in particular."

"It goes to Shadow Valley," answered Betty.

"Are--are you going there?" gasped Amy.

"Just to get a glimpse of it," was the reply. "Surely you're not
afraid--in broad daylight."

"And with us along?" demanded Will, heroically. "Shame!"

"Oh, well----" began Amy, but she did not finish.

"This side road leads right into the valley," said Mollie, a little
later.

"Then we'll take it," decided Betty, and she swung the car about. A
little later they were looking down from a height into the strange
valley.