blackened embers of a fire, and in one corner was a broken chair.
"It seems to have been deserted a long-time," said Alice. "I guess that man was passing and took shelter in here, just as we intended to. But there's another room. We may as well inspect that, and there's another upstairs. That may be a little better. We'll look, Ruth."
"We'll do nothing of the kind!" exclaimed Ruth. "We'll just stay right by the door where we can run, in case—in case anything happens," she finished, rather falteringly.
"Silly!" exclaimed Alice. "There is no one in this place."
"But that man might come back."
"Not likely. Besides, don't you know that it's the worst thing in the world to stand in an open doorway, before a fireplace or in a draft of any kind when there's lightning. Lightning is always attracted by a draft, or a chimney, or something like that."
"Oh, why do you always think of such nervous, scary things?" cried Ruth.
"Because they're true," answered Alice. "And I want to get you into the other room. We might find out something. And if you won't come upstairs, I'll go alone."
"And leave me down here? I'll not stay!"
