"Mrs.Bassett ?" "Go to the telephone," Mrs.Williams said hoarsely "She wants to talk to you, too.

She CAN'T talk much--she's hysterical.

She says they lured Georgie into the cellar and had him beaten by negroes! That's not all--" Mr.Williams was already on his way.
"You find Sam!" he commanded, over his shoulder.
Mrs.Williams stepped into the front hall.

"Sam!" she called, addressing the upper reaches of the stairway.

"Sam!" Not even echo answered.
"SAM!" A faint clearing of somebody's throat was heard behind her, a sound so modest and unobtrusive it was no more than just audible, and, turning, the mother beheld her son sitting upon the floor in the shadow of the stairs and gazing meditatively at the hatrack.