heroine. I am the adventuress. Will you permit me to explain my presence on your land?”
“No excuse is necessary. You were caught red-handed and you don't have to say anything to incriminate yourself further.”
“But it is scarcely a hundred feet to our line. In a very few minutes I shall be hurled relentlessly from your land and may never have another chance to tell why I dared to venture over here. You see, you have a haunted house on your land and I—” She hesitated.
“I see. The old Renwood Cottage on the hill. Been deserted for years. Renwood brought his wife up here in the mountains long ago and murdered her. She comes back occasionally, they say; mysterious noises and lights and all that. Well?”
“Well, I'm very much interested in spooks. In spite of the feud I rode over here for a peep at the house. Dear me, it's a desolate looking place. I did n't go inside, of course. Why don't you tear it down?”
“And deprive the ghost of house and home? That would be heartless. Besides, it serves as an attraction to bring visitors to my otherwise unalluring place. I'm terribly sorry the fortunes of war prevent me from offering to take you through the house. But as long as you remain a Bazelhurst I can't neglect my vow. Of course, I don't mean to say that you cant come and do what you please over here, but you shall be recognized and treated as a trespasser.”
“Oh, that 's just splendid! Perhaps I 'll come to-morrow.”
“I shall be obliged to escort you from the grounds, you know.”
“Yes, I know,” she said agreeably. He looked dazed and delighted. “Of course, I shall come with stealth and darkly. Not even my brother shall know of my plans.”
“Certainly not,” he said with alacrity. (They were nearing the line.) “Depend on me.”
“Depend on you? Your only duty is to scare me off the place.”
“That 's what I mean. I 'll keep sharp watch for you up at the haunted house.”
“It 's more than a mile from the line,” she advised him.
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