house, and he was about to turn in through a small grove of
trees, which would lead to a path across the fields, when
the young bond salesman was surprised to hear some one
running toward him. He could see no one, for the path wound
in and out among the trees, but the noise was plain.

"Some one in a hurry," mused Ned.

A moment later he Caught sight of a small lad named Harry
Telford running toward him. The boy had his hat in his hand,
and was speeding through the fast-gathering darkness as
though some one were after him.

"What's the rush?" asked Ned. "Playing cops and robbers?"
That was a game Tom and Ned had enjoyed in their younger
days.

"I--I'm runnin' away!" panted Harry. "I--I seen
something!"

"You saw something?" repeated Ned. "What was it--a ghost?"
and he laughed, thinking the boy would do the same.

"No, it wasn't no ghost!" declared Harry, casting a look
over his shoulder. "It was a wild elephant that I saw, and
it's down in a big yard with a fence around it."

"Where's that?" asked Ned. "The circus hasn't come to town
this evening, has it?"