No answer was vouchsafed.
He rapped again.
Silence profound as the grave.
"Well, there seems nobody at home. Vic sometimes occupies the back porch with the cat and her book; I will see."
He walks swiftly around the house.
He came to a sudden stand as he gained the broad side porch of the cottage.
He stood staring, struck dumb with an awful, deadly fear. Then he moved forward a step.
His eye fell on the interior of the porch, and he started and stopped.
What was it that held his steps?
[Illustration: HIS EYE FELL ON THE INTERIOR OF THE PORCH, AND HE STARTED
AND STOPPED.]