Tom Slade's Double Dare

step to the right, then quickly another to the left. This ruse brought the two face to face. And in a fl

drenched. He wore a plaid cap, which being pulled down over his ears by reason

t be afraid

," said Hervey.

e one scream?" th

the wind, I guess. A

e young man said. "This place is full of ch

ervey, somew

Hervey's shoulder. "Do you know a pers

hat to say. "Anyway, I have to hurry; it's up to me to save som

ch about dead people and children screaming. As he hurried on, Hervey concluded that the stranger was demented and had probably wandered away from s

and there in the lower places were areas of water. These he would not take the time to go around, but plunged through them, often going

blackness to guide him, for now the cheerful lights of an isolated house upon the ro

e could, and dragging his heavy, mud-bedraggled feet out of the mire every dozen

e. I hope that-bunch-doesn't go to-bed." His heart was pounding and he had a cruel stitch in his side from running, which pained him excruciatingly when he ran fast. He t

in and wind. The ground was better for a space and he ran desperately. Every breath he drew pa

ns for-for-people to-to go to-to bed early," he panted with difficulty. "I-I always-said--" He had not the bre

asmodic, he reeled, pulled himself together by sheer will, and stumbled on. On the next stone wall

rushed his streaming face with his sleeve so that he might see it the more clearly. But it looked d

direction without that distant light, and he knew it. He was not Tom Slade to be sure of himself in complete darkness. He was giddy-on the verge of

will. His heart seemed up in his mouth and choking him. With one hand he grasped the flying shred of his torn

balance, his exhausted and convulsed body went round like a

would rise. He raised himself on one trembling arm and looked abo

h direction was north or south or east or west. He only knew tha

ther, rested a moment on his knees, s

-th-the dick

untain must have been too near to show in outline now; it had probably melted into the general landscape. There was just an even, solid blackness all about him. The wind moaned, and som

in every direction, as if to beseech the angry night to give him back his

light anywhere.