THEfirstthingTomheardonFridaymorningwasagladpieceofnews——JudgeThatcher\'sfamilyhadcomebacktotownthenightbefore.BothInjunJoeandthetreasuresunkintosecondaryimportanceforamoment,andBeckytookthechiefplaceintheboy\'sinterest.Hesawherandtheyhadanexhaustinggoodtimeplaying\"hi-spy\"and\"gully-keeper\"withacrowdoftheirschoolmates.Thedaywascompletedandcrownedinapeculiarlysatisfactoryway:Beckyteasedhermothertoappointthenextdayforthelong-promisedandlong-delayedpicnic,andsheconsented.Thechild\'sdelightwasboundless;andTom\'snotmoremoderate.Theinvitationsweresentoutbeforesunset,andstraightwaytheyoungfolksofthevillagewerethrownintoafeverofpreparationandpleasurableanticipation.Tom\'sexcitementenabledhimtokeepawakeuntilaprettylatehour,andhehadgoodhopesofhearingHuck\'s\"maow,\"andofhavinghistreasuretoastonishBeckyandthepicnickerswith,nextday;buthewasdisappointed.Nosignalcamethatnight.\"Well,that\'smostlybecausetheydon\'tliketogowhereaman\'sbeenmurdered,anyway——butnothing\'severbeenseenaroundthathouseexceptinthenight——justsomebluelightsslippingbythewindows——noregularghosts.\"
\"Well,whereyouseeoneofthembluelightsflickeringaround,Tom,youcanbetthere\'saghostmightyclosebehindit.Itstandstoreason.Becuzyouknowthattheydon\'tanybodybutghostsuse\'em.\"
\"Yes,that\'sso.Butanywaytheydon\'tcomearoundinthedaytime,sowhat\'stheuseofourbeingafeard?\"
\"Well,allright.We\'lltackletheha\'ntedhouseifyousayso——butIreckonit\'stakingchances.\"
Theyhadstarteddownthehillbythistime.Thereinthemiddleofthemoonlitvalleybelowthemstoodthe\"ha\'nted\"house,utterlyisolated,itsfencesgonelongago,rankweedssmotheringtheverydoorsteps,thechimneycrumbledtoruin,thewindow-sashesvacant,acorneroftheroofcavedin.Theboysgazedawhile,halfexpectingtoseeabluelightflitpastawindow;thentalkinginalowtone,asbefittedthetimeandthecircumstances,theystruckfarofftotheright,togivethehauntedhouseawideberth,andtooktheirwayhomewardthroughthewoodsthatadornedtherearwardsideofCardiffHill.