At last he spoke, and “Murder!” was the word he muttered.

“He runs fast for a murdered man,” I said, with a sneer.

“Who was it?” he said, gazing with a strange, fixed expression up the dark blown hill.

“A ghost,” I answered, with a reckless laugh. “The town is full of them to-night.”

He looked at me gloomily. I could have thought he shivered slightly.

“Do you know him?”

“He was my friend once. Stand out of my way. I’ve an errand on hand. My father’s had a seizure.”

“Had a—come, I’ll go see him.”

“You won’t. I won’t have you near him. Stand out of my way.”

“You’re a fool. Promptness is everything in such cases.”