The latter dread, however, was soon dispelled. The "ghost" did not fall. He staggered, it is true-evidently the pain of the blow had stunned him considerably; but he managed to put speed into his pace, although the evidence of his suffering was even greater after he began to run. In a minute he disappeared in the darkness of the timber.
"My! that was a good shot, Helen," Ethel Zimmerman exclaimed. "And he will surely wear some lump on his head for some time to come."
"I was afraid I pulled too hard," Helen replied with a sigh of relief; "and, believe me, I'd rather be scared by a ghost several times over than with the prospect of having a murder record."
"Who is he?-have you any idea?" Violet asked.
"Can't you guess?" Helen answered. "Isn't he someone connected with the Graham family?"
"What was he trying to do-scare us?" Julietta inquired, addressing the question as much to herself as to anybody else.
"I should imagine something of the kind, although he may be the crazy man the Graham girls spoke about," said Helen.
"I don't believe there is any such person," Miss Ladd volunteered at this point.
"Then why did they suggest such an idea?" Violet questioned.
"I don't know, unless it was to frighten us," the Guardian replied.