"But that man might come back."
"Not likely. Besides, don't you know that it's the worst thing in the world to stand in an open doorway, before a fireplace or in a draft of any kind when there's lightning. Lightning is always attracted by a draft, or a chimney, or something like that."
"Oh, why do you always think of such nervous, scary things?" cried Ruth.
"Because they're true," answered Alice. "And I want to get you into the other room. We might find out something. And if you won't come upstairs, I'll go alone."
"And leave me down here? I'll not stay!"
"Then come along. We'll investigate. We may find a clue, as they say in books."
Alice drew back from the open door, and started for the inner room. Ruth stood for a moment, uncertain what to do. She looked across the glade, but the strange man was not in sight. He and his umbrella had disappeared into the depths of the woods.
Just then there came another vivid flash of lightning, and such a startling clap of thunder that Ruth, with a little scream, darted back, and, springing across the room, clutched Alice by the arm.
"Oh, I'm so frightened!" she gasped.
"We'll be all right now—in the back room," soothed the younger girl. "Oh, look! I believe that man does live here after all!"