Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/97

 At ten o'clock a sound behind him attracted his attention. Valeska was some distance away, and he did not call her, but stole to the small door in the wall and looked out. What he saw made him smile. He returned and, with a low whistle, called his assistant.

"We might learn some things from Genevieve and John," he said a little sadly, "even if we don't learn much about the ghost from them."

"Have you seen them?" she exclaimed.

"They were bidding each other good night at the stable door."

"Then," said Valeska, "it's my opinion that we'll see the ghost within a quarter of an hour. Let's sit down now and watch."

They took their places on the bench again, and her hand stole into his. Was it the suggestion she had received from the servants' love-making, or did she begin to fear the specter? With all his cleverness, Astro could not decide.

But suddenly she sprang up, and now there was no doubt of her alarm.

"There it is!" she exclaimed in a harsh whisper, pointing toward the shrubbery at the south wall.

There it was at last, indeed,—a seemingly sheeted form, bearing something that looked like a little child in its arms, stealing down the path! It approached them noiselessly. In the shadow of the trees it showed too indistinct for identification at that distance. Astro rose abruptly and took a step toward the house, when immediately the thing sped rapidly away. Astro broke into a run; but when he came to the house nothing was to be seen.

He went back to reassure Valeska, who stood, star-