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Thomas Westwood: Just

Just then there came a tremendous rap at the door, which made them all jump and gaze anxiously at one another. The front door was an old-fashioned one, with a queer brass knocker, which always made a great noise and could not fail to rouse the inmates of the house at any hour. "Maybe it is a really truly witch," said Gladys, rushing up to Hal and clasping him fearfully. "I never heard of witches knocking at the door when they wanted to come in," whispered Sally, doubtfully. "Thith one might be a queer one, though," continued Gladys. "Pooh, you little goose!" sneered Hal. "A real witch would come riding in through the keyhole on her broomstick before you could say Jack Robinson."

Just then Ned's eye fell upon the clock, and as he saw it was just nine, a look of relief came over his chubby face. "Oh, I know who it is!" he exclaimed. "It's father. He said perhaps he would come over about nine o'clock." "It must be," returned Hal, going out into the dark hall and towards the front door, followed closely by the others. Meanwhile the rapping had been kept up almost incessantly, though in a clumsy manner, the knocker seeming to slip from the grasp of the one who held it. Hal strode quickly forward and, unlocking the door, threw it wide open, expecting to see Mr. Morris standing there, but to his terror and dismay, instead of the familiar form there in the bright moonlight stood a tall white figure with a long white beard, nodding his head slowly up and down.

This was all the children saw, for the next moment they rushed back into the sitting-room pell-mell, greatly frightened, and snuggled up together in a heap on the lounge, whispering, "It's a ghost. It's a They were now about at the end of their resources Halloween ghost." In their hurry they had left the and were seated about the stove taking breath before making an onslaught upon a large paper bag suspended from the centre of the ceiling and just out of their reach. They had been telling stories and Hal (33) doors open, and the next instant there was a great clatter in the hall, and then the "ghost" walked slowly in on all fours, and the children, peeping timidly out from between their fingers. saw that it was a beautiful snow-white goat, with long, glossy hair and polished horns.

He stared solemnly at the children and they stared at him, until at last Gladys ventured to say, in low tones, "Maybe it is the witch and she has turned herself into a goat." Up the goat marched to the table and, sniffing around among the books and papers, began to eat the apple-cores which the children had left lying there. "Well!" said Will Merrihew, stoutly, "I don't believe a witch would eat our old apple-cores." "Neither do I," replied his brother Tom. "Why, a real witch could make a whole barrelful of elegant things to eat come right into the middle of the floor." "Goody gracious! It almost makes me wish she was a witch," exclaimed the irrepressible Sally, but this daring speech was met by looks of disapproval on all sides, and the speaker subsided. By this time the children had drawn somewhat nearer their visitor, having first plucked up courage to go and shut the doors lest other ghostly company should come in upon them, and finally Ned, who was somewhat more daring than the rest, walked up and stroked his soft hair, saying as he did so: "Good-evening, Mr. Graybeard. How do you do?" Suddenly, to his great surprise, the goat stood erect upon his hind legs, and, bowing politely, offered his right forefoot. For a moment Ned was considerably abashed by this courteous action; but he was equal to the occasion, and, stretching out his hand, gave the proffered foot a hearty shake. After each one of the children had gone through with this ceremony they began to feel more at home with their strange guest, and soon they were petting him and feeding him with cake and apples, evidently as much to his enjoyment as to theirs.

At last, the refreshments having given out, the boys began to cast about for some new entertainment, when Hal, spying his mouth-organ lying on the table, took it up and commenced playing upon it.

The goat appeared interested at once, and listened intently as one tune after another was played, but he did nothing further until, as Hal played the first strains of a popular waltz, he suddenly gave his head a proud toss, and then, to the great delight that Graybeard showed any intention of again taking the floor. Then he walked to one end of the room and when a certain part of the tune was played he gave a flying leap over a chair that stood near him, and this was repeated at intervals throughout the entire piece, and at its termination he lay down upon the floor, apparently lifeless. This alarmed his companions at first, but when they saw his eyes follow them as they moved about, they were convinced that this was one of his tricks. "It might be that he is 'chanted by a witch," quoth Gladys, as she looked gravely down upon the apparently lifeless form. "Well, I bet I know how to break the enchantment, then," said Will. "Let's go at the bag, now, and when he sees all those things he'll get up quick enough, I'll be bound."

To this all were agreed, so they began to march around, hitting the bag in turn with the long sticks which they carried. This particular bag received such rousing thumps that it was not long in bursting, and the candy and nuts showered down in profusion upon the floor. Then what a scrambling there was! And Will was right in surmising that the spell would be broken, for the goat was on his feet in a twinkling, rushing wildly about for his share of the feast. It was just at this moment that Mr. and Mrs. Merritt, accompanied by Mr. Morris and Mr. Merrihew, both armed with pistols, appeared in the doorway. "Oh, John," cried Mrs. Merritt, after one glance into the room, "it's that dreadful Polar bear. Oh! he will kill the children," and she sank back half fainting. "Nonsense, Fanny," said her husband, laughing. "It's only a goat. Bears don't have horns." At these words Mrs. Merritt revived, and soon all were talking at once. By degrees their story was told, and then they were equally surprised and pleased to learn who their curious guest was.

The fire the children had seen in the distance was the burning of the large buildings, which were the winter quarters of the menagerie belonging to a large circus company, and many of the animals had escaped and were roaming about the country, much to the alarm of the inhabitants. The goat had evidently wandered out as far as Mrs. Merritt's house, when the of his audience, began to waltz about the centre knocker on the door, which showed plainly in the of the room, taking his steps slowly but as daintily bright moonlight, had, perhaps, looked familiar to as a lady. him.