. Suppose you
begin and tell me everything from the first appearance of the ha'nt. I
should like to get him tabulated."

"The first definite thing that reached the house," I replied, "was the
night of my arrival when the roast chicken was stolen--I've told you
that in detail."

"And it was that same night that Aunt What-Ever-Her-Name-Is saw the
ghost in the laurel walk?"

I nodded.

"Did she say what it looked like?"

"It was white."

"And when you searched the cabins did you go into the one where the
grain is stored?"

"No, Mose dropped his torch at the entrance. And anyway Rad said there
was no use in searching it; it was already full to the brim with sacks
of corn meal."

"Do you think that Radnor was trying to divert you from the scene?"

"No, I am sure he hadn't a suspicion himself."

"And what did the thing look like that you saw Mose carrying to the
cabins in the night?"

"It seemed to be a large black bundle. I have thought since that it
might have been clothes or blankets or something of that sort."

"So much for the first night," said Terry. "Now, how soon did the ghost
appear again?"

"Various things were stolen after that, and the servants attributed it
to the ha'nt, but the first direct knowledge I had was the night of the
party when Radnor acted so strangely. I told you of his going back in
the night."

"He was carrying something too?"

"Yes, he had a black bundle--it might have been clothes."

"And after that he and Mose were in constant consultation?"

"Yes--they both encouraged the belief in the ha'nt among the negroes and
did their best to keep everyone away from the laurel walk. I overheard
Mose several times telling stories to the other negroes about the
terrible things the ha'nt would do if it caught them."

"And he himself didn't show any fear over the stories?"

"Not the slightest--appeared rather to enjoy them."

"And Radnor--how did he take the matter?"

"He was moody and irritable. I could see that something was preying on
his mind."

"How did you explain the matter to yourself?"

"I was afraid he had fallen into the clutches of someone who was
threatening him, possibly levying blackmail."

"But you didn't make any attempt to discover the truth?"

"Well, it was Rad's own affair, and I didn't want the appearance of
spying. I did keep my eyes open as much as I could."

"And the Colonel, how did he take all this excitement about the ha'nt?"

"It bothered him co