Agatha Webb

by

Anna Katharine Green Web-Books.Com

Agatha Webb
Book I. The Purple Orchi ...............................................................................3 Book II. The !an O" #o $eputation.......................................................113 Book III. %a Batsy &i'e (..........................................................................157

Book I. The Purple Orchid

I. A CRY ON THE HILL The dance was over. From the great house on the hill the guests had all de arted and onl! the musicians remained. As the! "iled out through the am le doorwa!# on their wa! home# the "irst "aint strea$ o" earl! dawn %ecame visi%le in the east. One o" them# a lan$# lain&"eatured !oung man o" ungainl! as ect %ut enetrating e!e# called the attention o" the others to it. 'Loo$(' said he) 'there is the da!light( This has %een a ga! night "or *utherlandtown.'

'Too ga!#' muttered another# starting aside as the slight "igure o" a !oung man coming "rom the house %ehind them rushed hastil! %!. '+h!# who,s that-' As the! one and all had recognised the erson thus alluded to# no one answered till he had dashed out o" the gate and disa eared in the woods on the other side o" the road. Then the! all s o$e at once. 'It,s .r. Frederic$(' 'He seems in a des erate hurr!.' 'He trod on m! toes.' '/id !ou hear the words he was muttering as he went %!-' As onl! the last 0uestion was calculated to rouse an! interest# it alone received attention. 'No) what were the!- I heard him sa! something# %ut I "ailed to catch the words.' 'He wasn,t tal$ing to !ou# or to me either# "or that matter) %ut I have ears that can hear an e!e win$. He said1 ,Than$ 2od# this night o" horror is over(, Thin$ o" that( A"ter such a dance and such a s read# he calls the night horri%le and than$s 2od that it is over. I thought he was the ver! man to en3o! this $ind o" thing.' '*o did I.' 'And so did I.'

The "ive musicians e4changed loo$s# then huddled in a grou at the gate. 'He has 0uarrelled with his sweetheart#' suggested one. 'I,m not sur rised at that#' declared another. 'I never thought it would %e a match.' '*hame i" it were(' muttered the ungainl! !outh who had s o$en "irst. As the su%3ect o" this comment was the son o" the gentleman whose house the! were 3ust leaving# the! necessaril! s o$e low) %ut their tones were ri"e with curiosit!# and it was evident that the to ic dee l! interested them. One o" the "ive who had not reviousl! s o$en now ut in a word1 'I saw him when he "irst led out .iss 5age to dance# and I saw him again when he stood u o osite her in the last 0uadrille# and I tell !ou# %o!s# there was a might! deal o" di""erence in the wa! he conducted himsel" toward her in the %eginning o" the evening and the last. You wouldn,t have thought him the same man. Rec$less !oung "ellows li$e him are not to %e caught %! dim les onl!. The! want cash.' 'Or "amil!# at least) and she hasn,t either. 6ut what a rett! girl she is( .an! a "ellow as rich as he and as well connected would %e satis"ied with her good loo$s alone.' '2ood loo$s(' High scorn was o%serva%le in this e4clamation# which was made %! the !oung man whom I have %e"ore characterised as ungainl!. 'I re"use to ac$nowledge that she has an! good loo$s. On the contrar!# I consider her lain.' 'Oh( Oh(' %urst in rotest "rom more than one mouth. 'And wh! does she have ever! "ellow in the room dangling a"ter her# then-' as$ed the la!er on the "lageolet. '*he hasn,t a regular "eature.' '+hat di""erence does that ma$e when it isn,t her "eatures !ou notice# %ut hersel"-' 'I don,t li$e her.' A laugh "ollowed this. 'That won,t trou%le her# *weetwater. *utherland does# i" !ou don,t# and that,s much more to the oint. And he,ll marr! her !et) he can,t hel it. +h!# she,d

witch the devil into leading her to the altar i" she too$ a notion to have him "or her %ridegroom.' 'There would %e consistenc! in that#' muttered the "ellow 3ust addressed. '6ut .r. Frederic$&&' 'Hush( There,s some one on the doorste . +h!# it,s she(' The! all glanced %ac$. The grace"ul "igure o" a !oung girl dressed in white was to %e seen leaning toward them "rom the o en doorwa!. 6ehind her shone a %la7e o" light&&the candles not having %een !et e4tinguished in the hall&&and against this %rilliant %ac$ground her slight "orm# with all its %ewitching outlines# stood out in lain relie". '+ho was that-' she %egan in a high# almost strident voice# totall! out o" $ee ing with the sensuous curves o" her strange# sweet "ace. 6ut the 0uestion remained unanswered# "or at that moment her attention# as well as that o" the men lingering at the gate# was attracted %! the sound o" hurr!ing "eet and con"used cries coming u the hill. '.urder( .urder(' was the word anted out %! more than one harsh voice) and in another instant a do7en men and %o!s came rushing into sight in a state o" such e4citement that the "ive musicians recoiled "rom the gate# and one o" them went so "ar as to start %ac$ toward the house. As he did so he noticed a curious thing. The !oung woman whom the! had all erceived standing in the door a moment %e"ore had vanished# !et she was $nown to ossess the $eenest curiosit! o" an! one in town. '.urder( .urder(' A terri%le and un recedented cr! in this old# 2od&"earing town. Then came in hoarse e4 lanation "rom the 3ostling grou as the! sto ed at the gate1 '.rs. +e%% has %een $illed( *ta%%ed with a $ni"e( Tell .r. *utherland(' .rs. +e%%( As the musicians heard this name# so honoured and so universall! %eloved# the! to a man uttered a cr!. .rs. +e%%( +h!# it was im ossi%le. *houting in their turn "or .r. *utherland# the! all crowded "orward. 'Not .rs. +e%%(' the! HER-' rotested. '+ho could have the daring or the heart to $ill

'2od $nows#' answered a voice "rom the highwa!. '6ut she,s dead&& we,ve 3ust seen her('

'Then it,s the old man,s wor$#' 0uavered a i ing voice. 'I,ve alwa!s said he would turn on his %est "riend some da!. ,*!lum,s the %est lace "or "ol$s as has lost their wits. I&&' 6ut here a hand was ut over his mouth# and the rest o" the words was lost in an inarticulate gurgle. .r. *utherland had 3ust a eared on the orch. He was a su er%&loo$ing man# with an e4 ression o" mingled $indness and dignit! that invaria%l! awa$ened %oth awe and admiration in the s ectator. No man in the countr!&&I was going to sa! no woman was more %eloved# or held in higher esteem. Yet he could not control his onl! son# as ever!one within ten miles o" the hill well $new. At this moment his "ace showed %oth ain and shoc$. '+hat name are !ou shouting out there-' he %ro$enl! demanded. 'Agatha +e%%- Is Agatha +e%% hurt-' 'Yes# sir) $illed#' re eated a hal"&do7en voices at once. '+e,ve 3ust come "rom the house. All the town is u . *ome sa! her hus%and did it.' 'No# no(' was .r. *utherland,s decisive though hal"&inaudi%le res onse. '5hilemon +e%% might end his own li"e# %ut not Agatha,s. It was the mone!&&' Here he caught himsel" u # and# raising his voice# addressed the crowd o" villagers more directl!. '+ait#' said he# 'and I will go %ac$ with !ou. +here is Frederic$-' he demanded o" such mem%ers o" his own household as stood a%out him. No one $new. 'I wish some one would "ind m! son. I want him to go into town with me.' 'He,s over in the woods there#' volunteered a voice "rom without. 'In the woods(' re eated the "ather# in a sur rised tone. 'Yes# sir) we all saw him go. *hall we sing out to him-' 'No# no) I will manage ver! well without him.' And ta$ing u his hat .r. *utherland ste ed out again u on the orch. *uddenl! he sto ed. A hand had %een laid on his arm and an insinuating voice was murmuring in his ear1

'/o !ou mind i" I go with !ou- I will not ma$e an! trou%le.' It was the same !oung lad! we have seen %e"ore. The old gentleman "rowned&&he who never "rowned and remar$ed shortl!1 'A scene o" murder is no lace "or women.' The "ace u turned to his remained unmoved. 'I thin$ I will go#' she 0uietl! ersisted. 'I can easil! mingle with the crowd.' He said not another word against it. .iss 5age was under a! in his house# %ut "or the last "ew wee$s no one had underta$en to contradict her. In the interval since her "irst a earance on the orch# she had e4changed the light dress in which she had danced at the %all# "or a dar$er and more servicea%le one# and erha s this to$en o" her determination ma! have had its in"luence in silencing him. He 3oined the crowd# and together the! moved down& hill. This was too much "or the servants o" the house. One %! one the! too le"t the house till it stood a%solutel! em t!. 8err! snu""ed out the candles and shut the "ront door# %ut the side entrance stood wide o en# and into this entrance# as the last "ootste died out on the hillside# assed a slight and resolute "igure. It was that o" the musician who had 0uestioned .iss 5age,s attractions. II. ONE NI2HT,* +OR9 *utherlandtown was a sea ort. The village# which was a small one# consisted o" one long street and numerous cross streets running down "rom the hillside and ending on the wharves. On one o" the corners thus made# stood the +e%% house# with its "ront door on the main street and its side door on one o" the hillside lanes. As the grou o" men and %o!s who had %een in search o" .r. *utherland entered this last&mentioned lane# the! could ic$ out this house "rom all the others# as it was the onl! one in which a light was still %urning. .r. *utherland lost no time in entering u on the scene o" traged!. As his im osing "igure emerged "rom the dar$ness and aused on the outs$irts o" the crowd that was %loc$ing u ever! entrance to the house# a murmur o" welcome went u # a"ter which a wa! was made "or him to the "ront door. 6ut %e"ore he could enter# some one luc$ed him %! the sleeve. 'Loo$ u (' whis ered a voice into his ear. He did so# and saw a woman,s %od! hanging hal" out o" an u er window. It hung lim # and the sight made him sic$# notwithstanding his threescore !ears o" e4 erience.

'+ho,s that-' he cried. 'That,s not Agatha +e%%.' 'No# that,s 6ats!# the coo$. *he,s dead as well as her mistress. +e le"t her where we "ound her "or the coroner to see.' '6ut this is horri%le#' murmured .r. *utherland. 'Has there %een a %utcher here-' As he uttered these words# he "elt another 0uic$ ressure on his arm. Loo$ing down# he saw leaning against him the "orm o" a !oung woman# %ut %e"ore he could address her she had started u right again and was moving on with the throng. It was .iss 5age. 'It was the sight o" this woman hanging "rom the window which "irst drew attention to the house#' volunteered a man who was standing as a sort o" guardian at the main gatewa!. '*ome o" the sailors, wives who had %een to the wharves to see their hus%ands o"" on the shi that sailed at da!%rea$# saw it as the! came u the lane on their wa! home# and gave the alarm. +ithout that we might not have $nown to this hour what had ha ened.' '6ut .rs. +e%%-' 'Come in and see.' There was a %oard "ence a%out the sim le !ard within which stood the hum%le house "orever a"ter to %e ointed out as the scene o" *utherlandtown,s most heartrending traged!. In this "ence was a gate# and through this gate now assed .r. *utherland# "ollowed %! his would&%e com anion# .iss 5age. A ath %ordered %! lilac %ushes led u to the house# the door o" which stood wide o en. As soon as .r. *utherland entered u on this ath a man a roached him "rom the doorwa!. It was Amos Fenton# the consta%le. 'Ah# .r. *utherland#' said he# 'sad %usiness# a ver! sad %usiness( 6ut what little girl have !ou there-' 'This is .iss 5age# m! house$ee er,s niece. *he would come. In0uisitiveness the cause. I do not a rove o" it.' '.iss 5age must remain on the doorste . +e allow no one inside e4ce ting !oursel"#' he said res ect"ull!# in recognition o" the "act that nothing o" im ortance was ever underta$en in *utherland town without the resence o" .r. *utherland. .iss 5age curtsied# loo$ing so %ewitching in the "resh morning light that the tough old consta%le scratched his chin in grudging admiration. 6ut he did not

reconsider his determination. *eeing this# she acce ted her de"eat grace"ull!# and moved aside to where the %ushes o""ered her more or less rotection "rom the curiosit! o" those a%out her. .eanwhile .r. *utherland had ste ed into the house. He "ound himsel" in a small hall with a staircase in "ront and an o en door at the le"t. On the threshold o" this o en door a man stood# who at sight o" him do""ed his hat. 5assing %! this man# .r. *utherland entered the room %e!ond. A ta%le s read with eata%les met his view# %eside which# in an attitude which struc$ him at the moment as eculiar# sat 5hilemon +e%%# the well&$nown master o" the house. Astonished at seeing his old "riend in this room and in such a osition# he was a%out to address him# when .r. Fenton sto ed him. '+ait(' said he. 'Ta$e a loo$ at oor 5hilemon %e"ore !ou distur% him. +hen we %ro$e into the house a hal"&hour ago he was sitting 3ust as !ou see him now# and we have let him %e "or reasons !ou can easil! a reciate. E4amine him closel!# .r. *utherland) he won,t notice it.' '6ut what ails him- +h! does he sit crouched against the ta%le- Is he hurt too-' 'No) loo$ at his e!es.' .r. *utherland stoo ed and ushed aside the long gre! loc$s that hal" concealed the countenance o" his aged "riend. '+h!#' he cried# startled# 'the! are closed( He isn,t dead-' 'No# he is aslee .' 'Aslee -' 'Yes. He was aslee when we came in and he is aslee !et. *ome o" the neigh%ours wanted to wa$e him# %ut I would not let them. His wits are not strong enough to %ear a sudden shoc$.' 'No# no# oor 5hilemon( 6ut that he should sit slee ing here while she&&6ut what do these %ottles mean and this arade o" su er in a room the! were not accustomed to eat in-' '+e don,t $now. It has not %een eaten# !ou see. He has swallowed a glass o" ort# %ut that is all. The other glasses have had no wine in them# nor have the victuals %een touched.'

'*eats set "or three and onl! one occu ied#' murmured .r. *utherland. '*trange( Could he have e4 ected guests-' 'It loo$s li$e it. I didn,t $now that his wi"e allowed him such rivileges) %ut she was alwa!s too good to him# and I "ear has aid "or it with her li"e.' 'Nonsense( he never $illed her. Had his love %een an!thing short o" the worshi it was# he stood in too much awe o" her to li"t his hand against her# even in his most demented moments.' 'I don,t trust men o" uncertain wits#' returned the other. 'You have not noticed ever!thing that is to %e seen in this room.' .r. *utherland# recalled to himsel" %! these words# loo$ed 0uic$l! a%out him. +ith the e4ce tion o" the ta%le and what was on and %! it there was nothing else in the room. Naturall! his glance returned to 5hilemon +e%%. 'I don,t see an!thing %ut this oor slee ing man#' he %egan. 'Loo$ at his sleeve.' .r. *utherland# with a start# again %ent down. The arm o" his old "riend la! croo$ed u on the ta%le# and on its %lue cotton sleeve there was a smear which might have %een wine# %ut which was&& %lood. As .r. *utherland %ecame assured o" this# he turned slightl! in0uiringl! at the two men who were intentl! watching him. 'This is %ad#' said he. 'An! other mar$s o" %lood %elow stairs-' 'No) that one smear is all.' 'Oh# 5hilemon(' %urst "rom .r. *utherland# in dee emotion. Then# as he loo$ed long and shudderingl! at his "riend# he added slowl!1 'He has %een in the room where she was $illed) so much is evident. 6ut that he understood what was done there I cannot %elieve# or he would not %e slee ing here li$e a log. Come# let us go u &stairs.' Fenton# with an admonitor! gesture toward his su%ordinate# turned directl! toward the staircase. .r. *utherland "ollowed him# and the! at once roceeded to the u er hall and into the large "ront room which had %een the scene o" the traged!. It was the arlour or sitting&room o" this small and un retentious house. A rag car et covered the "loor and the "urniture was o" the lainest $ind# %ut the ale and loo$ed

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woman who la! outstretched on the sti""# old&"ashioned lounge o osite the door was "ar "rom %eing in accord with the homel! t! e o" her surroundings. Though the victim o" a violent death# her "ace and "orm# %oth o" a %eaut! seldom to %e "ound among women o" an! station# were so ma3estic in their calm re ose# that .r. *utherland# accustomed as he was to her no%le a earance# e4 erienced a shoc$ o" sur rise that "ound vent in these words1 '.urdered( she- You have made some mista$e# m! "riends. Loo$ at her "ace(' 6ut even in the act o" sa!ing this his e!es "ell on the %lood which had d!ed her cotton dress and he cried1 '+here was she struc$ and where is the wea on which has made this ghastl! wound-' '*he was struc$ while standing or sitting at this ta%le#' returned the consta%le# ointing to two or three dro s o" %lood on its smooth sur"ace. 'The wea on we have not "ound# %ut the wound shows that it was in"licted %! a three&sided dagger.' 'A three&sided dagger-' 'Yes.' 'I didn,t $now there was such a thing in town. 5hilemon could have had no dagger.' 'It does not seem so# %ut one can never tell. *im le cottages li$e these o"ten contain the most unloo$ed&"or articles.' 'I cannot imagine a dagger %eing among its e""ects#' declared .r. *utherland. '+here was the %od! o" .rs. +e%% l!ing when !ou came in-' '+here !ou see it now. Nothing has %een moved or changed.' '*he was "ound here# on this lounge# in the same osition in which we see her now-' 'Yes# sir.' '6ut that is incredi%le. Loo$ at the wa! she lies( Hands crossed# e!es closed# as though made read! "or her %urial. Onl! loving hands could have done this. +hat does it mean-' 'It means 5hilemon) that is what it means 5hilemon.'

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.r. *utherland shuddered# %ut said nothing. He was dum%"ounded %! these evidences o" a cra7! man,s wor$. 5hilemon +e%% alwa!s seemed so harmless# though he had %een "ailing in mind "or the last ten !ears. '6ut' cried .r. *utherland# suddenl! rousing# 'there is another victim. I saw old woman 6ats! hanging "rom a window ledge# dead.' 'Yes# she is in this other room) %ut there is no wound on 6ats!.' 'How was she $illed# then-' 'That the doctors must tell us.' .r. *utherland# guided %! .r. Fenton,s gesture# entered a small room o ening into the one in which the! stood. His attention was at once attracted %! the %od! o" the woman he had seen "rom %elow# l!ing hal" in and hal" out o" the o en window. That she was dead was evident) %ut# as .r. Fenton had said# no wound was to %e seen u on her# nor were there an! mar$s o" %lood on or a%out the lace where she la!. 'This is a dread"ul %usiness#' groaned .r. *utherland# 'the worst I have ever had an!thing to do with. Hel me to li"t the woman in) she has %een long enough a show "or the eo le outside.' There was a %ed in this room :indeed# it was .rs. +e%%,s %edroom;# and u on this oor 6ats! was laid. As the "ace came u ermost %oth gentlemen started and loo$ed at each other in ama7ement. The e4 ression o" terror and alarm which it showed was in stri$ing contrast to the loo$ o" e4altation to %e seen on the "ace o" her dead mistress. III. THE E.5TY /RA+ER As the! re&entered the larger room# the! were astonished to come u on .iss 5age standing in the doorwa!. *he was ga7ing at the recum%ent "igure o" the dead woman# and "or a moment seemed unconscious o" their resence. 'How did !ou get in- +hich o" m! men was wea$ enough to let !ou ass# against m! e4 ress instructions-' as$ed the consta%le# who was o" an irrita%le and sus icious nature. *he let the hood dro "rom her head# and# turning# surve!ed him with a slow smile. There was witcher! in that smile su""icient to a""ect a much more

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cultivated and callous nature than his# and though he had %een roo" against it once he could not 0uite resist the e""ect o" its re etition. 'I insisted u on entering#' said she. '/o not %lame the men) the! did not want to use "orce against a woman.' *he had not a good voice and she $new it) %ut she covered u this de"ect %! a choice o" intonations that carried her lightest s eech to the heart. Hard&visaged Amos Fenton gave a grunt# which was as near an e4 ression o" a roval as he ever gave to an!one. '+ell( well(' he growled# %ut not ill&naturedl!# 'it,s a mor%id curiosit! that %rings !ou here. 6etter dro it# girl) it won,t do !ou an! good in the e!es o" sensi%le eo le.' 'Than$ !ou#' was her demure re l!# her li s dim ling at the corners in a wa! to shoc$ the sensitive .r. *utherland. 2lancing "rom her to the still outlines o" the no%le "igure on the couch# he remar$ed with an air o" mild re roo"1 'I do not understand !ou# .iss 5age. I" this solemn sight has no ower to sto !our co0uetries# nothing can. As "or !our curiosit!# it is %oth ill&timed and unwomanl!. Let me see !ou leave this house at once# .iss 5age) and i" in the "ew hours which must ela se %e"ore %rea$"ast !ou can "ind time to ac$ !our trun$s# !ou will still "arther o%lige me.' 'Oh# don,t send me awa!# I entreat !ou.' It was a cr! "rom her inner heart# which she ro%a%l! regretted# "or she instantl! sought to cover u her inadvertent sel"&%etra!al %! a su%missive %end o" the head and a ste %ac$ward. Neither .r. Fenton nor .r. *utherland seemed to hear the one or see the other# their attention having returned to the more serious matter in hand. 'The dress which our oor "riend wears shows her to have %een struc$ %e"ore retiring#' commented .r. *utherland# a"ter another short surve! o" .rs. +e%%,s "igure. 'I" 5hilemon&&' 'E4cuse me# sir#' interru ted the voice o" the !oung man who had %een le"t in the hall# 'the lad! is listening to what !ou sa!. *he is still at the head o" the stairs.' '*he is# is she(' cried Fenton# shar l!# his admiration "or the "ascinating stranger having oo7ed out at his com anion,s re%u"". 'I will soon show her&&' 6ut the words melted into thin air as he reached the door. The !oung girl had disa eared# and onl! a "aint er"ume remained in the lace where she had stood.

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'A most e4traordinar! erson#' grum%led the consta%le# turning %ac$# %ut sto again as a "aint murmur came u "rom %elow. 'The gentleman is wa$ing#' called u erce ti%le at a distance.

ing

a voice whose lac$ o" music was 0uite

+ith a %ound .r. Fenton descended the stairs# "ollowed %! .r. *utherland. .iss 5age stood %e"ore the door o" the room in which sat 5hilemon +e%%. As the! reached her side# she made a little %ow that was hal" moc$ing# hal" de recator!# and sli ed "rom the house. An almost un%eara%le sensation o" incongruit! vanished with her# and .r. *utherland# "or one# %reathed li$e a man relieved. 'I wish the doctor would come#' Fenton said# as the! watched the slow li"ting o" 5hilemon +e%%,s head. 'Our "astest rider has gone "or him# %ut he,s out 5ortchester wa!# and it ma! %e an hour !et %e"ore he can get here.' '5hilemon(' .r. *utherland had advanced and was standing %! his old "riend,s side. '5hilemon# what has %ecome o" !our guests- You,ve waited "or them here until morning.' The old man with a da7ed loo$ surve!ed the two lates set on either side o" him and shoo$ his head. '8ames and 8ohn are getting roud#' said he# 'or the! "orget# the! "orget.' 8ames and 8ohn. He must mean the <a%els# !et there were man! others answering to these names in town. .r. *utherland made another e""ort. '5hilemon# where is !our wi"e- I do not see an! lace set here "or her(' 'Agatha,s sic$# Agatha,s cross) she don,t care "or a oor old man li$e me.' 'Agatha,s dead and !ou $now it#' thundered %ac$ the consta%le# with ill&3udged severit!. '+ho $illed her- tell me that. +ho $illed her-' A sudden 0uenching o" the last s ar$ o" intelligence in the old man,s e!e was the dread"ul e""ect o" these words. Laughing with that strange gurgle which roclaims an utterl! irres onsi%le mind# he cried1 'The uss! cat( It was the uss! cat. +ho,s $illed- I,m not $illed. Let,s go to 8ericho.'

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.r. *utherland too$ him %! the arm and led him u &stairs. 5erha s the sight o" his dead wi"e would restore him. 6ut he loo$ed at her with the same indi""erence he showed to ever!thing else. 'I don,t li$e her calico dresses#' said he. '*he might have worn sil$# %ut she wouldn,t. Agatha# will !ou wear sil$ to m! "uneral-' The e4 eriment was too ain"ul# and the! drew him awa!. 6ut the consta%le,s curiosit! had %een roused# and a"ter the! had "ound some one to ta$e care o" him# he drew .r. *utherland aside and said1 '+hat did the old man mean %! sa!ing she might have worn sil$- Are the! %etter o"" than the! seem-' .r. *utherland closed the door %e"ore re l!ing. 'The! are rich#' he declared# to the utter ama7ement o" the other. 'That is# the! were) %ut the! ma! have %een ro%%ed) i" so# 5hilemon was not the wretch who $illed her. I have %een told that she $e t her mone! in an old&"ashioned cu %oard. /o !ou su ose the! alluded to that one-' He ointed to a door set in the wall over the "ire lace# and .r. Fenton# erceiving a $e! stic$ing in the loc$# ste ed 0uic$l! across the "loor and o ened it. A row o" %oo$s met his e!es# %ut on ta$ing them down a cou le o" drawers were seen at the %ac$. 'Are the! loc$ed-' as$ed .r. *utherland. 'One is and one is not.' 'O en the one that is unloc$ed.' .r. Fenton did so. 'It is em t!#' said he. .r. *utherland cast a loo$ toward the dead woman# and again the er"ect serenit! o" her countenance struc$ him. 'I do not $now whether to regard her as the victim o" her hus%and,s im%ecilit! or o" some vile ro%%er,s cu idit!. Can !ou "ind the $e! to the other drawer-' 'I will tr!.' '*u ose !ou %egin# then# %! loo$ing on her erson. It should %e in her oc$et# i" no marauder has %een here.' 'It is not in her oc$et.'

15

'Hanging to her nec$# then# %! a string-' 'No) there is a loc$et here# %ut no $e!. A ver! handsome loc$et# .r. *utherland# with a child,s loc$ o" golden hair&&' 'Never mind# we will see that later) it is the $e! we want 3ust now.' '2ood heavens(' '+hat is it-' 'It is in her hand) the one that lies underneath.' 'Ah( A oint# Fenton.' 'A great oint.' '*tand %! her# Fenton. /on,t let an!one ro% her o" that $e! till the coroner comes# and we are at li%ert! to ta$e it.' 'I will not leave her "or an instant.' '.eanwhile# I will ut %ac$ these %oo$s.' He had scarcel! done so when a "resh arrival occurred. This time it was one o" the village clerg!men. I=. THE F>LL /RA+ER This gentleman had some in"ormation to give. It seems that at an earl! hour o" this same night he had gone %! this house on his wa! home "rom the %edside o" a sic$ arishioner. As he was assing the gate he was run into %! a man who came rushing out o" the !ard# in a state o" violent agitation. In this man,s hand was something that glittered# and though the encounter nearl! u set them %oth# he had not sto ed to utter an a olog!# %ut stum%led awa! out o" sight with a hast! %ut in"irm ste # which showed he was neither !oung nor active. The minister had "ailed to see his "ace# %ut noticed the ends o" a long %eard %lowing over his shoulder as he hurried awa!. 5hilemon was a clean&shaven man. As$ed i" he could give the time o" this encounter# he re lied that it was not "ar "rom midnight# as he was in his own house %! hal"& ast twelve. '/id !ou glance u at these windows in assing-' as$ed .r. Fenton.

16

'I must have) "or I now remem%er the! were %oth lighted.' '+ere the shades u -' 'I thin$ not. I would have noticed it i" the! had %een.' 'How were the shades when !ou %ro$e into the house this morning-' in0uired .r. *utherland o" the consta%le. '8ust as the! are now) we have moved nothing. The shades were %oth down&&one o" them over an o en window.' '+ell# we ma! "ind this encounter o" !ours with this un$nown man a matter o" vital im ortance# .r. Crane.' 'I wish I had seen his "ace.' '+hat do !ou thin$ the o%3ect was !ou saw glittering in his hand-' 'I should not li$e to sa!) I saw it %ut an instant.' 'Could it have %een a $ni"e or an old&"ashioned dagger-' 'It might have %een.' 'Alas( oor Agatha( That she# who so des ised mone!# should "all a victim to man,s cu idit!( >nha ! li"e# unha ! death( Fenton# I shall alwa!s mourn "or Agatha +e%%.' 'Yet she seems to have "ound eace at last#' o%served the minister. 'I have never seen her loo$ so contented.' And leading .r. *utherland aside# he whis ered1 '+hat is this !ou sa! a%out mone!- Had she# in s ite o" a earances# an! considera%le amount- I as$# %ecause in s ite o" her hum%le home and sim le manner o" living# she alwa!s ut more on the late than an! o" her neigh%ours. 6esides which# I have "rom time to time during m! astorate received anon!mousl! certain contri%utions# which# as the! were alwa!s "or sic$ or su""ering children&&' 'Yes# !es) the! came "rom her# I have no dou%t o" it. *he was %! no means oor# though I m!sel" never $new the e4tent o" her means till latel!. 5hilemon was a good %usiness man once) %ut the! evidentl! re"erred to live sim l!# having no children living&&' 'The! have lost si4# I have %een told.'

17

'*o the 5ortchester "ol$s sa!. The! ro%a%l! had no heart "or dis la! or "or even the sim lest lu4uries. At all events# the! did not indulge in them.' '5hilemon has long %een ast indulging in an!thing.' 'Oh# he li$es his com"ort# and he has had it too. Agatha never stinted him.' '6ut wh! do !ou thin$ her death was due to her having mone!-' '*he had a large sum in the house# and there are those in town who $new this.' 'And is it gone-' 'That we shall $now later.' As the coroner arrived at this moment# the minister,s curiosit! had to wait. Fortunatel! "or his e0uanimit!# no one had the resum tion to as$ him to leave the room. The coroner was a man o" %ut "ew words# and %ut little given to emotion. Yet the! were sur rised at his "irst 0uestion1 '+ho is the !oung woman standing outside there# the onl! one in the !ard-' .r. *utherland# moving ra idl! to the window# drew aside the shade. 'It is .iss 5age# m! house$ee er,s niece#' he e4 lained. 'I do not understand her interest in this a""air. *he "ollowed me here "rom the house and could hardl! %e got to leave this room# into which she intruded hersel" against m! e4 ress command.' '6ut loo$ at her attitude(' It was .r. Fenton who s o$e. '*he,s cra7ier than 5hilemon# it seems to me.' There was some reason "or this remar$. 2uarded %! the high "ence "rom the ga7e o" the ushing crowd without# she stood u right and immova%le in the middle o" the !ard# li$e one on watch. The hood# which she had dro ed "rom her head when she thought her e!es and smile might %e o" use to her in the "urtherance o" her lans# had %een drawn over it again# so that she loo$ed more li$e a statue in gre! than a living# %reathing woman. Yet there was menace in her attitude and a ur ose in the solitar! stand she too$ in that circle o" %oard&girded grass# which caused a thrill in the %reasts o" those who loo$ed at her "rom that cham%er o" death. 'A m!sterious !oung woman#' muttered the minister.

18

'And one that I neither countenance nor under&stand#' inter olated .r. *utherland. 'I have 3ust shown m! dis leasure at her actions %! dismissing her "rom m! house.' The coroner gave him a 0uic$ loo$# seemed a%out to s ea$# %ut changed his mind and turned toward the dead woman. '+e have a sad dut! %e"ore us#' said he. The investigations which "ollowed elicited one or two new "acts. First# that all the doors o" the house were "ound unloc$ed) and# secondl!# that the consta%le had %een among the "irst to enter# so that he could vouch that no disarrangement had %een made in the rooms# with the e4ce tion o" 6ats!,s removal to the %ed. Then# his attention %eing drawn to the dead woman# he discovered the $e! in her tightl! closed hand. '+here does this $e! %elong-' he as$ed. The! showed him the drawers in the cu %oard. 'One is em t!#' remar$ed .i. *utherland. 'I" the other is "ound to %e in the same condition# then her mone! has %een ta$en. That $e! she holds should o en %oth these drawers.' 'Then let it %e made use o" at once. It is im ortant that we should $now whether the"t has %een committed here as well as murder.' And drawing the $e! out# he handed it to .r. Fenton. The consta%le immediatel! unloc$ed the drawer and %rought it and its contents to the ta%le. 'No mone! here#' said he. '6ut a ers as good as mone!#' announced the doctor. '*ee( here are deeds and more than one valua%le %ond. I 3udge she was a richer woman than an! o" us $new.' .r. *utherland# meantime# was loo$ing with an air o" disa em t! drawer. ointment into the now

'8ust as I "eared#' said he. '*he has %een ro%%ed o" her read! mone!. It was dou%tless in the other drawer.' 'How came she %! the $e!# then-'

19

'That is one o" the m!steries o" the a""air) this murder is %! no means a sim le one. I %egin to thin$ we shall "ind it "ull o" m!steries.' '6ats!,s death# "or instance-' 'O !es# 6ats!( I "orgot that she was "ound dead too.' '+ithout a wound# doctor.' '*he had heart disease. I doctored her "or it. The "right has $illed her.' 'The loo$ o" her "ace con"irms that.' 'Let me see( *o it does) %ut we must have an auto s! to rove it.' 'I would li$e to e4 lain %e"ore an! "urther measures are ta$en# how I came to $now that Agatha +e%% had mone! in her house#' said .r. *utherland# as the! ste ed %ac$ into the other room. 'Two da!s ago# as I was sitting with m! "amil! at ta%le# old gossi 8ud! came in. Had .rs. *utherland %een living# this old crone would not have resumed to intrude u on us at mealtime# %ut as we have no one now to u hold our dignit!# this woman rushed into our resence anting with news# and told us all in one %reath how she had 3ust come "rom .rs. +e%%) that .rs. +e%% had mone!) that she had seen it# she hersel") that# going into the house as usual without $noc$ing# she had heard Agatha ste ing overhead and had gone u ) and "inding the door o" the sitting&room a3ar# had loo$ed in# and seen Agatha crossing the room with her hands "ull o" %ills) that these %ills were %ig %ills# "or she heard Agatha cr!# as she loc$ed them u in the cu %oard %ehind the %oo$&shelves# ,A thousand dollars( That is too much mone! to have in one,s house,) that she# 8ud!# thought so too# and %eing "rightened at what she had seen# had cre t awa! as silentl! as she had entered and run awa! to tell the neigh%ours. Ha il!# I was the "irst she "ound u that morning# %ut I have no dou%t that# in s ite o" m! e4 ress in3unctions# she has since related the news to hal" the eo le in town.' '+as the !oung woman down !onder resent when 8ud! told this stor!-' as$ed the coroner# ointing towards the !ard. .r. *utherland ondered. '5ossi%l!) I do not remem%er. Frederic$ was seated at the ta%le with me# and m! house$ee er was ouring out the co""ee# %ut it was earl! "or .iss 5age. *he has %een utting on great airs o" late.' 'Can it %e ossi%le he is tr!ing to %lind himsel" to the "act that his son Frederic$ wishes to marr! this girl-' muttered the clerg!man into the consta%le,s ear.

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The consta%le shoo$ his head. .r. *utherland was one o" those de%onair men# whose ver! mildness ma$es them im enetra%le. =. A *5OT ON THE LA+N The coroner# on leaving the house# was "ollowed %! .r. *utherland. As the "ine "igures o" the two men a eared on the doorste # a "aint cheer was heard "rom the two or three "avoured ersons who were allowed to loo$ through the gate. 6ut to this to$en o" welcome neither gentleman res onded %! so much as a loo$# all their attention %eing engrossed %! the sight o" the solitar! "igure o" .iss 5age# who still held her stand u on the lawn. .otionless as a statue# %ut with her e!es "i4ed u on their "aces# she awaited their a roach. +hen the! were near her she thrust one hand "rom under her cloa$# and ointing to the grass at her "eet# said 0uietl!1 '*ee this-' The! hastened towards her and %ent down to e4amine the s ot she indicated. '+hat do !ou "ind there-' cried .r. *utherland# whose e!esight was not good. '6lood#' res onded the coroner# closel!. luc$ing u a %lade o" grass and surve!ing it

'6lood#' echoed .iss 5age# with so suggestive a glance that .r. *utherland stared at her in ama7ement# not understanding his own emotion. 'How were !ou a%le to discern a stain so nearl! im erce ti%le-' as$ed the coroner. 'Im erce ti%le- It is the onl! thing I see in the whole !ard#' she retorted# and with a slight %ow# which was not without its element o" moc$er!# she turned toward the gate. 'A most unaccounta%le girl#' commented the doctor. '6ut she is right a%out these stains. A%el#' he called to the man at the gate# '%ring a %o4 or %arrel here and cover u this s ot. I don,t want it distur%ed %! tram ling "eet.' A%el started to o%e!# 3ust as the !oung girl laid her hand on the gate to o en it. '+on,t !ou hel me-' she as$ed. 'The crowd is so great the! won,t let me through.'

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'+on,t the!-' The words came "rom without. '8ust sli out as I sli in# and !ou,ll "ind a lace made "or !ou.' Not recognising the voice# she hesitated "or a moment# %ut seeing the gate swa!ing# she ushed against it 3ust as a !oung man ste ed through the ga . Necessaril! the! came "ace to "ace. 'Ah# it,s !ou#' he muttered# giving her a shar glance. 'I do not $now !ou#' she haughtil! declared# and sli she was out o" the gate %e"ore he could res ond. ed %! him with such de4terit!

6ut he onl! sna ed his "inger and thum% moc$ingl! at her# and smiled $nowingl! at A%el# who had lingered to watch the end o" this encounter. '*u le as a willow twig# eh-' he laughed. '+ell# I have made whistles out o" willows %e"ore now# and hallo( where did !ou get that-' He was ointing to a rare "lower that hung lim and "aded "rom A%el,s %uttonhole. 'This- Oh# I "ound it in the house !onder. It was l!ing on the "loor o" the inner room# almost under 6ats!,s s$irts. Curious sort o" "lower. I wonder where she got it-' The intruder %etra!ed at once an unaccounta%le emotion. There was a strange glitter in his light green e!es that made A%el shi"t rather uneasil! on his "eet. '+as that %e"ore this rett! min4 !ou have 3ust let out came in here with .r. *utherland-' 'O !es) %e"ore an!one had started "or the hill at all. +h!# what has this !oung lad! got to do with a "lower dro ed %! 6ats!-' '*he- Nothing. Onl!&&and I have never given !ou %ad advice# A%el&& don,t let that thing hang an! longer "rom !our %uttonhole. 5ut it into an envelo e and $ee it# and i" !ou don,t hear "rom me again in regard to it# write me out a "ool and "orget we were ever chums when little shavers.' The man called A%el smiled# too$ out the "lower# and went to cover u the grass as /r. Tal%ot had re0uested. The stranger too$ his lace at the gate# toward which the coroner and .r. *utherland were now advancing# with an air that showed his great an4iet! to s ea$ with them. He was the musician whom we saw secretl! entering the last&mentioned gentleman,s house a"ter the de arture o" the servants.

22

As the coroner aused %e"ore him he s o$e. '/r. Tal%ot#' said he# dro ing his e!es# which were a t to %etra! his thoughts too lainl!# '!ou have o"ten romised that !ou would give me a 3o% i" an! matter came u where an! nice detective wor$ was wanted. /on,t !ou thin$ the time has come to remem%er me-' 'You# *weetwater- I,m a"raid the a""air is too dee "or an ine4 erienced man,s "irst e""ort. I shall have to send to 6oston "or an e4 ert. Another time# *weetwater# when the com lications are less serious.' The !oung "ellow# with a "ace white as mil$# was turning awa!. '6ut !ou,ll let me sta! around here-' he leaded# ausing and giving the other an im loring loo$. 'O !es#' answered the good&natured coroner. 'Fenton will have wor$ enough "or !ou and hal" a do7en others. 2o and tell him I sent !ou.' 'Than$ !ou#' returned the other# his "ace suddenl! losing its as ect o" acute disa ointment. 'Now I shall see where that "lower "ell#' he murmured. =I. 6REA9FA*T I* *ER=E/# 2ENTLE.EN( .r. *utherland returned home. As he entered the %road hall he met his son# Frederic$. There was a loo$ on the !oung man,s "ace such as he had not seen there in !ears. 'Father#' "altered the !outh# 'ma! I have a "ew words with !ou-' The "ather nodded $indl!# though it is li$el! he would have much re"erred his %rea$"ast) and the !oung man led him into a little sitting&room littered with the "aded garlands and other to$ens o" the receding night,s "estivities. 'I have an a olog! to ma$e#' Frederic$ %egan# 'or rather# I have !our "orgiveness to as$. For !ears' he went on# stum%ling over his words# though he gave no evidence o" a wish to restrain them&&'"or !ears I have gone contrariwise to !our wishes and caused m! mother,s heart to ache and !ou to wish I had never %een %orn to %e a curse to !ou and her.' He had em hasised the word mother# and s o$e altogether with "orce and dee intensit!. .r. *utherland stood etri"ied) he had long ago given u this lad as lost. 'I&&I wish to change. I wish to %e as great a ride to !ou as I have %een a shame and a dishonour. I ma! not succeed at once) %ut I am in earnest# and i" !ou will give me !our hand&&'

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The old man,s arms were round the !oung man,s shoulders at once. 'Frederic$(' he cried# 'm! Frederic$(' '/o not ma$e me too much ashamed#' murmured the !outh# ver! ale and strangel! discom osed. '+ith no e4cuse "or m! ast# I su""er intolera%le a rehension in regard to m! "uture# lest m! good intentions should "ail or m! sel"&control not hold out. 6ut the $nowledge that !ou are ac0uainted with m! resolve# and regard it with an undeserved s!m ath!# ma! su""ice to sustain me# and I should certainl! %e a %ase oltroon i" I should disa oint !ou or her twice.' He aused# drew himsel" "rom his "ather,s arms# and glanced almost solemnl! out o" the window. 'I swear that I will hence"orth act as i" she were still alive and watching me.' There was strange intensit! in his manner. .r. *utherland regarded him with ama7ement. He had seen him in ever! mood natural to a rec$less man# %ut never in so serious a one# never with a loo$ o" awe or ur ose in his "ace. It gave him 0uite a new idea o" Frederic$. 'Yes#' the !oung man went on# raising his right hand# %ut not removing his e!es "rom the distant ros ect on which the! were "i4ed# 'I swear that I will hence"orth do nothing to discredit her memor!. Outwardl! and inwardl!# I will act as though her e!e were still u on me and she could again su""er grie" at m! "ailures or thrill with leasure at m! success.' A ortrait o" .rs. *utherland# ainted when Frederic$ was a lad o" ten# hung within a "ew "eet o" him as he s o$e. He did not glance at it# %ut .r. *utherland did# and with a loo$ as i" he e4 ected to %ehold a res onsive light %eam "rom those athetic "eatures. '*he loved !ou ver! dearl!#' was his slow and earnest comment. '+e have %oth loved !ou much more dee l! than !ou have ever seemed to realise# Frederic$.' 'I %elieve it#' res onded the !oung man# turning with an e4 ression o" calm resolve to meet his "ather,s e!e. 'As roo" that I am no longer insensi%le to !our a""ection# I have made u m! mind to "orego "or !our sa$e one o" the dearest wishes o" m! heart. Father' he hesitated %e"ore he s o$e the word# %ut he s o$e it "irml! at last#&&'am I right in thin$ing !ou would not li$e .iss 5age "or a daughter-' 'Li$e m! house$ee er,s niece to ta$e the lace in this house once occu ied %! .arietta *utherland- Frederic$# I have alwa!s thought too well o" !ou to

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%elieve !ou would carr! !our "orget"ulness o" me so "ar as that# even when I saw that !ou were in"luenced %! her attractions.' 'You did not do 3ustice to m! sel"ishness# "ather. I did mean to marr! her# %ut I have given u living solel! "or m!sel"# and she could never hel me to live "or others. Father# Ama%el 5age must not remain in this house to cause division %etween !ou and me.' 'I have alread! intimated to her the desira%ilit! o" her 0uitting a home where she is no longer res ected#' the old gentleman declared. '*he leaves on the ?@.AB train. Her conduct this morning at the house o" .rs. +e%%&&who erha s !ou do not $now was most cruell! and "oull! murdered last night&&was such as to cause comment and ma$e her an undesira%le ad3unct to an! gentleman,s "amil!.' Frederic$ aled. *omething in these words had caused him a great shoc$. .r. *utherland was "ond enough to %elieve that it was the news o" this e4traordinar! woman,s death. 6ut his son,s words# as soon as lie could "ind an!# showed that his mind was running on Ama%el# whom he erha s had "ound it di""icult to connect even in the remotest wa! with crime. '*he at this lace o" death- How could that %e- +ho would ta$e a !oung girl there-' The "ather# e4 eriencing# erha s# more com assion "or this soon& to&%e& disillusioned lover than he thought it incum%ent u on him to show# answered shortl!# %ut without an! com romise o" the unha ! truth1 '*he went) she was not ta$en. No one# not even m!sel"# could $ee her %ac$ a"ter she had heard that a murder had %een committed in the town. *he even intruded into the house) and when ordered out o" the room o" death too$ u her stand in the !ard in "ront# where she remained until she had the o ortunit! o" ointing out to us a stain o" %lood on the grass# which might otherwise have esca ed our attention.' 'Im ossi%le(' Frederic$,s e!e was staring) he loo$ed li$e a man struc$ dum% %! sur rise or "ear. 'Ama%el do this- You are moc$ing me# sir# or I ma! %e dreaming# which ma! the good 2od grant.' His "ather# who had not loo$ed "or so much emotion# e!ed his son in sur rise# which ra idl! changed to alarm as the !oung man "altered and "ell %ac$ against the wall. 'You are ill# Frederic$) !ou are reall! ill. Let me call down .rs. Harcourt. 6ut no# I cannot summon her. *he is this girl,s aunt.'

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Frederic$ made an e""ort and stood u . '/o not call an!%od!#' he entreated. 'I e4 ect to su""er some in casting this "ascinating girl out o" m! heart. >ltimatel! I will con0uer the wea$ness) indeed I will. As "or her interest in .rs. +e%%,s death'&&how low his voice san$ and how he trem%led(' she ma! have %een %etter "riends with her than we had an! reason to su ose. I can thin$ o" no other motive "or her conduct. Admiration "or .rs. +e%% and horror&&&' '6rea$"ast is served# gentlemen(' cried a thrilling voice %ehind them. Ama%el 5age stood smiling in the doorwa!. =II. .ARRY .E '+ait a moment# I must s ea$ to !ou.' It was Ama%el who was holding Frederic$ %ac$. *he had caught him %! the arm as he was a%out leaving the room with his "ather# and he "elt himsel" o%liged to sto and listen. 'I start "or * ring"ield to&da!#' she announced. 'I have another relative there living at the house. +hen shall I have the leasure o" seeing !ou in m! new home-' 'Never.' It was said regret"ull!# and !et with a certain %rus0ueness# occasioned erha s %! over&e4cited "eeling. 'Hard as it is "or me to sa! it# Ama%el# it is %ut 3ust "or me to tell !ou that a"ter our arting here to&da! we will meet onl! as strangers. Friendshi %etween us would %e moc$er!# and an! closer relationshi has %ecome im ossi%le.' It had cost him an immense e""ort to sa! these words# and he e4 ected# "ondl! e4 ected# I must admit# to see her colour change and her head droo . 6ut instead o" this she loo$ed at him steadil! "or a moment# then sli ed her hand down his arm till she reached his alm# which she ressed with sudden warmth# drawing him into the room as she did so# and shutting the door %ehind them. He was s eechless# "or she never had loo$ed so handsome or so glowing. Instead o" showing de ression or humiliation even# she con"ronted him with a smile more dangerous than an! dis la! o" grie"# "or it contained what it had hitherto lac$ed# ositive and irresisti%le admiration. Her words were e0uall! dangerous. 'I $iss !our hand# as the * aniards sa!.' And she almost did so# with a %end o" her head# which 3ust allowed him to catch a glim se o" two startling dim les. He was astounded. He thought he $new this woman well# %ut at this moment she was as incom rehensi%le to him as i" he had never made a stud! o" her ca rices and sought an e4 lanation "or her ever& shi"ting e4 ressions.

26

'I am sensi%le o" the honour#' said he# '%ut hardl! understand how I have earned it.' *till that incom rehensi%le loo$ o" admiration continued to illumine her "ace. 'I did not $now I could ever thin$ so well o" !ou#' she declared. 'I" !ou do not ta$e care# I shall end %! loving !ou some da!.' 'Ah(' he e3aculated# his "ace contracting with sudden ain) '!our love# then# is %ut a otentialit!. =er! well# Ama%el# $ee it so and !ou will %e s ared much miser!. As "or me# who have not %een as wise as !ou&&&' 'Frederic$(' *he had come so near he did not have the strength to "inish. Her "ace# with its inde"ina%le charm# was raised to his# as she dro ed these words one %! one "rom her li s in lingering cadence1 'Frederic$&&do !ou love me# then# so ver! much-' He was angr!) ossi%l! %ecause he "elt his resolution "ailing him. 'You $now(' he hotl! %egan# ste ing %ac$. Then with a sudden %urst o" "eeling# that was almost li$e ra!er# he resumed1 '/o not tem t me# Ama%el. I have trou%le enough# without lamenting the "ailure o" m! "irst stead"ast ur ose.' 'Ah(' she said# sto ing where she was# %ut drawing him toward her %! ever! witcher! o" which her mo%ile "eatures were ca a%le) '!our generous im ulse has strengthened into a ur ose# has it- +ell# I,m not worth it# Frederic$.' .ore and more astounded# understanding her less than ever# %ut charmed %! loo$s that would have moved an anchorite# he turned his head awa! in a vain attem t to esca e an in"luence that was so ra idl! undermining his determination. *he saw the movement# recognised the wea$ness it %es o$e# and in the trium h o" her heart allowed a low laugh to esca e her. Her voice# as I have %e"ore said# was unmusical though e""ective) %ut her laugh was deliciousl! sweet# es eciall! when it was restrained to a mere ri le# as now. 'You will come to * ring"ield soon#' she avowed# sli leave the wa! to the door o en. ing "rom %e"ore him so as to

'Ama%el(' His voice was strangel! hus$!# and the involuntar! o ening and shutting o" his hands revealed the emotion under which he was la%ouring. '/o !ou love meYou have ac$nowledged it now and then# %ut alwa!s as i" !ou did not mean it. Now !ou ac$nowledge that !ou ma! some da!# and this time as i" !ou did mean it. +hat is the truth- Tell me# without co0uetr! or

27

dissem%ling# "or I am in dead earnest# and&&&' He aused# cho$ed# and turned toward the window where %ut a "ew minutes %e"ore he had ta$en that solemn oath. The remem%rance o" it seemed to come %ac$ with the movement. Flushing with a new agitation# he wheeled u on her shar l!. 'No# no#' he ra!ed# 'sa! nothing. I" !ou swore !ou did not love me I should not %elieve it# and i" !ou swore that !ou did I should onl! "ind it harder to re eat what must again %e said# that a union %etween us can never ta$e lace. I have given m! solemn romise to&&&' '+ell# well. +h! do !ou sto - Am I so hard to tal$ to that the words will not leave !our li s-' 'I have romised m! "ather I will never marr! !ou. He "eels that he has grounds o" com laint against !ou# and as I owe him ever!thing&&&' He sto li s. ed ama7ed. *he was loo$ing at him intentl!# that same low laugh still on her

'Tell the truth#' she whis ered. 'I $now to what e4tent !ou consider !our "ather,s wishes. You thin$ !ou ought not to marr! me a"ter what too$ lace last night. Frederic$# I li$e !ou "or this evidence o" consideration on !our art# %ut do not struggle too relentlessl! with !our conscience. I can "orgive much more in !ou than !ou thin$# and i" !ou reall! love me&&&' '*to ( Let us understand each other.' He had turned mortall! ale# and met her e!es with something a$in to alarm. '+hat do !ou allude to in s ea$ing o" last night- I did not $now there was an!thing said %! us in our tal$ together&&&' 'I do not allude to our tal$.' 'Or&&or in the one dance we had&&&' 'Frederic$# a dance is innocent.' The word seemed to stri$e him with the "orce o" a %low. 'Innocent#' he re eated# 'innocent-' %ecoming meaning %ro$e graduall! u on him. aler still as the "ull weight o" her

'I "ollowed !ou into town#' she whis ered# coming closer# and %reathing the words into his ear. '6ut what I saw !ou do there will not revent me "rom o%e!ing !ou i" !ou sa!1 ,Follow me wherever I go# Ama%el) hence"orth our lives are one.,' '.! 2od('

28

It was all he said# %ut it seemed to create a gul" %etween them. In the silence that "ollowed# the evil s irit latent %eneath her %eaut! %egan to ma$e itsel" evident even in the smile which no longer called into view the dim les which %elong to guileless mirth# while u on his "ace# a"ter the "irst aral!sing e""ect o" her words had assed# there a eared an e4 ression o" manl! resistance that %etra!ed a virtue which as !et had never a eared in his sel"ish and altogether rec$less li"e. That this was more than a assing im ulse he resentl! made evident %! li"ting his hand and ushing her slowl! %ac$. 'I do not $now what !ou saw me do#' said he) '%ut whatever it was# it can ma$e no di""erence in our relations.' Her whis er# which had %een %ut a %reath %e"ore# %ecame scarcel! audi%le. 'I did not ause at the gate !ou entered#' said she. 'I went in a"ter !ou.' A gas o" irresisti%le "eeling esca ed him# %ut he did not ta$e his e!es "rom her "ace. 'It was a long time %e"ore !ou came out#' she went on# '%ut revious to that time the shade o" a certain window was thrust aside# and&&&' 'Hush(' he commanded# in uncontrolla%le assion# ressing his hand with im ulsive energ! against her mouth. 'Not another word o" that# or I shall "orget !ou are a woman or that I have ever loved !ou.' Her e!es# which were all she had remaining to lead with# too$ on a eculiar loo$ o" 0uiet satis"action# and ower. *eeing it# he let his hand "all and "or the "irst time %egan to regard her with an!thing %ut a lover,s e!es. 'I was the onl! erson in sight at that time#' she continued. 'You have nothing to "ear "rom the world at large.' 'Fear-' The word made its own echo) she had no need to em hasise it even %! a smile. 6ut she watched him as it sun$ into his consciousness with an intentness it too$ all his strength to sustain. *uddenl! her %earing and e4 ression changed. The "ew remains o" sweetness in her "ace vanished# and even the allurement which o"ten lasts when the sweetness is gone# disa eared in the energ! which now too$ ossession o" her whole threatening and in"le4i%le ersonalit!.

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'.arr! me#' she cried# 'or I will roclaim !ou to %e the murderer o" Agatha +e%%.' *he had seen the death o" love in his e!es. =III. A /E=IL THAT >N/ER*TAN/* .EN Frederic$ *utherland was a man o" "iner mental %alance than he himsel"# erha s# had ever realised. A"ter the "irst "ew moments o" stu e"action "ollowing the astounding alternative which had %een given him# he %ro$e out with the last sentence she ro%a%l! e4 ected to hear1 '+hat do !ou ho e "rom a marriage with me# that to attain !our wishes !ou thus sacri"ice ever! womanl! instinct-' *he met him on his own ground. '+hat do I ho e-' *he actuall! glowed with the "orce o" her secret desire. 'Can !ou as$ a oor girl li$e me# %orn in a tenement house# %ut with tastes and am%itions such as are usuall! onl! given to those who can grati"! them- I want to %e the rich .r. *utherland,s daughter) ac$nowledged or unac$nowledged# the wi"e o" one who can enter an! house in 6oston as an e0ual. +ith a osition li$e that I can rise to an!thing. I "eel that I have the natural ower and a titude. I have "elt it since I was a small child.' 'And "or that&&&' he %egan. 'And "or that#' she %ro$e in# 'I am 0uite willing to overloo$ a %lot on !our record. Con"ident that !ou will never re eat the ris$ o" last night# I am read! to share the %urden o" !our secret through li"e. I" !ou treat me well# I am sure I can ma$e that %urden light "or !ou.' +ith a 0uic$ "lush and an increase o" sel"&assertion# ro%a%l! not antici ated %! her# he "aced the daring girl with a des erate resolution that showed how handsome he could %e i" his soul once got control o" his %od!. '+oman#' he cried# 'the! were right) !ou are little less than a devil.' /id she regard it as a com liment- Her smile would seem to sa! so. 'A devil that understands men#' she answered# with that slow di o" her dim les that made her smile so dangerous. 'You will not hesitate long over this matter) a wee$# erha s.' 'I shall not hesitate at all. *eeing !ou as !ou are# ma$es m! course eas!. You will never share an! %urden with me as m! wi"e.'

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*till she was not a%ashed. 'It is a it!#' she whis ered) 'it would have saved !ou such unnecessar! struggle. 6ut a wee$ is not long to wait. I am certain o" !ou then. This da! wee$ at twelve o,cloc$# Frederic$.' He sei7ed her %! the arm# and lost to ever!thing %ut his rage# shoo$ her with a des erate hand. '/o !ou mean it-' he cried# a sudden horror showing itsel" in his "ace# notwithstanding his e""orts to conceal it. 'I mean it so much#' she assured him# 'that %e"ore I came home 3ust now I aid a visit to the co se over the wa!. A certain hollow tree# where !ou and I have held more than one tr!st# conceals within its de ths a ac$age containing over one thousand dollars. Frederic$# I hold !our li"e in m! hands.' The gras with which he held her rela4ed) a mortal des air settled u on his "eatures# and recognising the im ossi%ilit! o" "urther concealing the e""ect o" her words u on him# he san$ into a chair and covered his "ace with his hands. *he viewed him with an air o" trium h# which %rought %ac$ some o" her %eaut!. +hen she s o$e it was to sa!1 'I" !ou wish to 3oin me in * ring"ield %e"ore the time I have set# well and good. I am willing that the time o" our se aration should %e shortened# %ut it must not %e lengthened %! so much as a da!. Now# i" !ou will e4cuse me# I will go and ac$ m! trun$s.' He shuddered) her voice enetrated him to the 0uic$. /rawing hersel" u # she loo$ed down on him with a strange mi4ture o" assion and elation. 'You need "ear no indiscretion on m! art# so long as our armistice lasts#' said she. 'No one can drag the truth "rom me while an! ho e remains o" !our doing !our dut! %! me in the wa! I have suggested.' And still he did not move. 'Frederic$-' +as it her voice that was thus murmuring his name- Can the tiger snarl one moment and "awn the ne4t'Frederic$# I have a "inal word to sa!&&a last "arewell. > to this hour I have endured !our attentions# or# let us sa!# acce ted them# "or I alwa!s "ound !ou

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handsome and agreea%le# i" not the master o" m! heart. 6ut now it is love that I "eel# love) and love with me is no "anc!# %ut a assion&&do !ou hear-&&a assion which will ma$e li"e a heaven or hell "or the man who has ins ired it. You should have thought o" this when !ou o osed me.' And with a loo$ in which love and hatred contended "or master!# she %ent and im rinted a $iss u on his "orehead. Ne4t moment she was gone. Or so he thought. 6ut when# a"ter an interval o" nameless recoil# he rose and attem ted to stagger "rom the lace# he discovered that she had %een detained in the hall %! two or three men who had 3ust come in %! the "ront door. 'Is this .iss 5age-' the! were as$ing. 'Yes# I am .iss 5age&&Ama%el 5age' she re lied with suave oliteness. 'I" !ou have an! %usiness with me# state it 0uic$l!# "or I am a%out to leave town.' 'That is what we wish to revent#' declared a tall# thin !oung man who seemed to ta$e the lead. 'Till the in0uest has %een held over the remains o" .rs. +e%%# Coroner Tal%ot wishes !ou to regard !oursel" as a ossi%le witness.' '.e-' she cried# with an admira%le gesture o" sur rise and a wide o ening o" her %rown e!es that made her loo$ li$e an astonished child. '+hat have I got to do with it-' 'You ointed out a certain s ot o" %lood on the grass# and&&well# the coroner,s orders have to %e o%e!ed# miss. You cannot leave the town without running the ris$ o" arrest' 'Then I will sta! in it#' she smiled. 'I have no li$ing "or arrests#' and the glint o" her e!e rested "or a moment on Frederic$. '.r. *utherland#' she continued# as that gentleman a eared at the dining&room door# 'I shall have to im ose u on !our hos italit! "or a "ew da!s longer. These men here in"orm me that m! innocent interest in ointing out to !ou that s ot o" %lood on .rs. +e%%,s lawn has awa$ened some curiosit!# and that I am wanted as a witness %! the coroner.' .r. *utherland# with a 0uic$ stride# lessened the distance %etween himsel" and these unwelcome intruders. 'The coroner,s wishes are aramount 3ust now#' said he# %ut the loo$ he gave his son was not soon "orgotten %! the s ectators. IC. A 2RAN/ +O.AN

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There was %ut one to ic discussed in the countr!&side that da!# and that was the li"e and character o" Agatha +e%%. Her histor! had not %een a ha ! one. *he and 5hilemon had come "rom 5ortchester some twent! or more !ears %e"ore to esca e the sorrows associated with their native town. The! had le"t %ehind them si4 small graves in 5ortchester church!ard) %ut though evidences o" their a""liction were alwa!s to %e seen in the countenances o" either# the! had entered with so much ur ose into the li"e o" their ado ted town that the! had %ecome ersons o" note there till 5hilemon,s health %egan to "ail# when Agatha 0uit all outside wor$ and devoted hersel" e4clusivel! to him. O" her character and winsome ersonalit! we can gather some idea "rom the various conversations carried on that da! "rom 5ortchester 2reen to the shi !ards in *utherlandtown. In /eacon 6rainerd,s cottage# the discussion was concerning Agatha,s lac$ o" vanit!) a virtue not ver! common at that time among the women o" this %us! sea ort. 'For a woman so handsome#' the good deacon was sa!ing ':and I thin$ I can sa"el! call her the "inest&"eatured woman who ever trod these streets;# she showed as little interest in dress as an!one I ever $new. Calico at home and calico at church# !et she loo$ed as much o" a lad! in her dar$&s rigged gowns as .rs. +e%ster in her sil$s or .rs. 5arsons in her thousand&dollar seals$in.' As this was a to ic within the sco e o" his eldest daughter,s intelligence she at once s o$e u 1 'I never thought she needed to dress so lainl!. I don,t %elieve in such a show o" overt! m!sel". I" one is too oor to go decent# all right) %ut the! sa! she had more mone! than most an!one in town. I wonder who is going to get the %ene"it o" it-' '+h!# 5hilemon# o" course) that is# as long as he lives. He dou%tless had the ma$ing o" it.' 'Is it true that he,s gone clean out o" his head since her death-' inter osed a neigh%our who had ha ened in. '*o the! sa!. I %elieve widow 8ones has ta$en him into her house.' '/o !ou thin$#' as$ed a second daughter with %ecoming hesitation# 'that he had an!thing to do with her death- *ome o" the neigh%ours sa! he struc$ her while in one o" his cra7! "its# while others declare she was $illed %! some stranger# e0uall! old and almost as in"irm.' '+e won,t discuss the su%3ect#' o%3ected the deacon. 'Time will show who ro%%ed us o" the greatest&hearted and most ca a%le woman in these arts.'

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'And will time show who $illed 6ats!-' It was a morsel o" a girl who s o$e) the least one o" the "amil!# %ut the %rightest. 'I,m sorr! "or 6ats!) she alwa!s gave me coo$ies when I went to see .rs. +e%%.' '6ats! was a good girl "or a *wede#' allowed the deacon,s wi"e# who had not s o$en till now. '+hen she "irst came into town on the s ars o" that wrec$ed shi we all remem%er# there was some struggle %etween Agatha and me as to which o" us should have her. 6ut I didn,t li$e the tas$ o" teaching her the name o" ever! ot and an she had to use in the $itchen# so I gave her u to Agatha) and it was "ortunate I did# "or I,ve never %een a%le to understand her tal$ to this da!.' 'I could tal$ with her right well#' lis ed the little one. '*he never called things %! their *wedish names unless she was worried) and I never worried her.' 'I wonder i" she would have worshi ed the ground under !our "eet# as she did that under Agatha,s-' as$ed the deacon# e!ing his wi"e with 3ust the sus icion o" a malicious twin$le in his e!e. 'I am not the greatest&hearted and most ca a%le woman in town#' retorted his wi"e# clic$ing her needles as she went on $nitting. In .r. * rague,s house on the o osite side o" the road# *0uire Fisher was relating some old tales o" %!gone 5ortchester da!s. 'I $new Agatha when she was a girl#' he avowed. '*he had the grandest manners and the most enchanting smile o" an! rich or oor man,s daughter %etween the coast and * ring"ield. *he did not dress in calico then. *he wore the ga!est clothes her "ather could %u!. her# and old 8aco% was not without means to ma$e his daughter the leading "igure in town. How we !oung "ellows did adore her# and what lengths we went to win one o" her glorious smiles( Two o" us# 8ohn and 8ames <a%el# have lived %achelors "or her sa$e to this ver! da!) %ut I hadn,t courage enough "or that) I married and'&& something %etween a sigh and a chuc$le "illed out the sentence. '+hat made 5hilemon carr! o"" the ri7e- His good loo$s-' 'Yes# or his good luc$. It wasn,t his sna ) o" that !ou ma! %e sure. 8ames <a%el had the sna # and he was her "irst choice# too# %ut he got into some di""icult!&&I never $new 3ust what it was# %ut it was regarded as serious at the time&&and that match was %ro$en o"". A"terwards she married 5hilemon. You see# I was out o" it altogether) had never %een in it# erha s) %ut there were three good !ears o" m! li"e in which I thought o" little else than Agatha. I admired her s irit# !ou see. There was something more ta$ing in her wa!s than in her %eaut!# wonder"ul as that was. *he ruled us with a rod o" iron# and !et we worshi ed her. I have wondered to see her so mee$ o" late. I never thought she would %e satis"ied with a %ric$&"loored cottage and a hus%and o"

34

"ailing wits. 6ut no one# to m! $nowledge# has ever heard a com laint "rom her li s) and the dignit! o" her a""licted wi"e&hood has "ar transcended the haughtiness o" those da!s when she had %ut to smile to have all the !outh o" 5ortchester at her "eet.' 'I su ose it was the loss o" so man! children that reconciled her to a 0uiet li"e. A woman cannot close the e!es o" si4 children# one a"ter the other# without some modi"ication ta$ing lace in her character.' 'Yes# she and 5hilemon have %een un"ortunate) %ut she was a s lendid loo$ing girl# %o!s. I never see such grand&loo$ing women now.' In a little one&storied cottage on the hillside a woman was nursing a %a%! and tal$ing at the same time o" Agatha +e%%. 'I shall never "orget the night m! "irst %a%! "ell sic$#' she "altered) 'I was 3ust out o" %ed m!sel"# and having no nearer neigh%ours then than now# I was all alone on the hillside# Alec %eing awa! at sea. I was too !oung to $now much a%out sic$ness# %ut something told me that I must have hel %e"ore morning or m! %a%! would die. Though I could 3ust wal$ across the "loor# I threw a shawl around me# too$ m! %a%! in m! arms# and o ened the door. A %linding gust o" rain %lew in. A terri%le storm was raging and I had not noticed it# I was so ta$en u with the child. 'I could not "ace that gale. Indeed# I was so wea$ I "ell on m! $nees as it struc$ me and %ecame dri ing wet %e"ore I could drag m!sel" inside. The %a%! %egan to moan and ever!thing was turning dar$ %e"ore me# when I heard a strong# sweet voice cr! out in the roadwa!1 ',Is there room in this house "or me till the storm has %lown %!- I cannot see m! wa! down the hillside., '+ith a %ursting heart I loo$ed u . A woman was standing in the doorwa!# with the loo$ o" an angel in her e!es. I did not $now her# %ut her "ace was one to %ring com"ort to the saddest heart. Holding u m! %a%!# I cried1 ',.! %a%! is d!ing) I tried to go "or the doctor# %ut m! $nees %ent under me. Hel me# as !ou are a mother&&I&&&, 'I must have "allen again# "or the ne4t thing I remem%er I was l!ing %! the hearth# loo$ing u into her "ace# which was %ending over me. *he was white as the rag I had tied a%out m! %a%!,s throat# and %! the wa! her %reast heaved she was either ver! much "rightened or ver! sorr!.

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',I wish !ou had the hel o" an!one else#, said she. ,6a%ies erish in m! arms and wither at m! %reast. I cannot touch it# much as I !earn to. 6ut let me see its "ace) erha s I can tell !ou what is the matter with it., 'I showed her the %a%!,s "ace# and she %ent over it# trem%ling ver! much# almost as much indeed as m!sel". ',It is ver! sic$#, she said# ,%ut i" !ou will use the remedies I advise# I thin$ !ou can save it., And she told me what to do# and hel ed me all she could) %ut she did not la! a "inger on the little darling# though "rom the wa! she watched it I saw that her heart was set on his getting %etter. And he did) in an hour he was slee ing eace"ull!# and the terri%le weight was gone "rom m! heart and "rom hers. +hen the storm sto ed# and she could leave the house# she gave me a $iss) %ut the loo$ she gave him meant more than $isses. 2od must have "orgotten her goodness to me that night when He let her die so itia%le a death.' At the minister,s house the! were commenting u on the loo$ o" serenit! o%serva%le in her dead "ace. 'I have $nown her "or thirt! !ears#' her astor declared# 'and never %e"ore have I seen her wear a loo$ o" real eace. It is wonder"ul# considering the circumstances. /o !ou thin$ she was so wear! o" her li"e,s long struggle that she hailed an! release "rom it# even that o" violence-' A !oung man# a law!er# visiting them "rom New Yor$# was the onl! one to answer. 'I never saw the woman !ou are tal$ing a%out#' said he# 'and $now nothing o" the circumstances o" her death %e!ond what !ou have told me. 6ut "rom the ver! incongruit! %etween her e4 ression and the violent nature o" her death# I argue that there are de ths to this crime which have not !et %een sounded.' '+hat de ths- It is a sim le case o" murder "ollowed %! the"t. To %e sure we do not !et $now the criminal# %ut mone! was his motive) that is clear enough.' 'Are !ou read! to wager that that is all there is to it-' This was a startling ro osition to the minister. 'You "orget m! cloth#' said he. The !oung man smiled. 'That is true. 5ardon me. I was onl! an4ious to show how strong m! conviction was against an! such eas! e4 lanation o" a crime mar$ed %! such contradictor! "eatures.'

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Two children on the 5ortchester road were e4changing %o!ish con"idences. '/o !ou $now what I thin$ a%out it-' as$ed one. 'Naw( How should I-' '+all# I thin$ old .rs. +e%% got the li$es o" what she sent. /on,t !ou $now she had si4 children once# and that she $illed ever! one o" them-' '9illed,em&&she-' 'Yes# I heard her tell grann! once all a%out it. *he said there was a %light on her house&&I don,t $now what that is) %ut I guess it,s something %ig and heav!&&and that it "ell on ever! one o" her children# as "ast as the! came# and $illed ,em.' 'Then I,m glad I %en,t her child.' =er! di""erent were the recollections interchanged %etween two middle&aged 5ortchester women. '*he was drin$ing tea at m! house when her sister *aire! came running in with the news that the %a%! she had le"t at home wasn,t 0uite right. That was her "irst child# !ou $now.' 'Yes# !es# "or I was with her when that %a%! came#' %ro$e in the other# 'and such 3o! as she showed when the! told her it was alive and well I never saw. I do not $now wh! she didn,t e4 ect it to %e alive# %ut she didn,t# and her ha iness was 3ust wonder"ul to see.' '+ell# she didn,t en3o! it long. The oor little "ellow died !oung. 6ut I was telling !ou o" the night when she "irst heard he was ailing. 5hilemon had %een telling a good stor!# and we were all laughing# when *aire! came in. I can see Agatha now. *he alwa!s had the most %rilliant e!es in the count!# %ut that da! the! were su er%l! da77ling. The! changed# though# at the sight o" *aire!,s "ace# and she 3um ed to meet her 3ust as i" she $new what *aire! was going to sa! %e"ore ever a word le"t her li s. ,.! %a%!(, :I can hear her !et.; ,*omething is the matter with the %a%!(, And though *aire! made haste to tell her that he was onl! ailing and not at all ill# she turned u on 5hilemon with a loo$ none o" us ever 0uite understood) he changed so com letel! under it# 3ust as she had under *aire!,s) and to neither did the old ha iness ever return# "or the child died within a wee$# and when the ne4t came it died also# and the ne4t# till si4 small innocents la! %uried in !onder old grave!ard.'

37

'I $now) and sad enough it was too# es eciall! as she and 5hilemon were %oth "ond o" children. +ell# well# the wa!s o" 5rovidence are ast rinding out( And now she is gone and 5hilemon&&&' 'Ah# he,ll "ollow her soon) he can,t live without Agatha.' Nearer home# the old se4ton was chattering a%out the si4 gravestones raised in 5ortchester church!ard to these si4 dead in"ants. He had %een sent there to choose a s ot in which to la! the mother# and was "ull o" the shoc$ it gave him to see that line o" little stones# telling o" a ast with which the good eo le o" *utherlandtown "ound it hard to associate 5hilemon and Agatha +e%%. 'I,m a digger o" graves#' he mused# hal" to himsel" and hal" to his old wi"e watching him "rom the other side o" the hearthstone. 'I s end a good 0uarter o" m! time in the church!ard) %ut when I saw those si4 little mounds# and read the inscri tions over them# I couldn,t hel "eeling 0ueer. Thin$ o" this( On the "irst tin! headstone I read these words1' *TE5HEN# *on o" 5hilemon and Agatha +e%%# /ied# Aged *i4 +ee$s. 2od %e merci"ul to me a sinner( 'Now what does that mean- /id !ou ever hear an!one sa!-' 'No#' was his old wi"e,s answer. '5erha s she was one o" those Calvinist "ol$s who %elieve %a%ies go to hell i" the! are not %a tised.' '6ut her children were all %a tised. I,ve %een told so) some o" them %e"ore she was well out o" her %ed. ,2od %e merci"ul to me a sinner(, And the chic$ not si4 wee$s old( *omething 0ueer a%out that# dame# i" it did ha en more than thirt! !ears ago.' '+hat did !ou see over the grave o" the child who was $illed in her arms %! lightning-' 'This1 ',And he was not# "or 2od too$ him.,' Farmer +aite had %ut one word to sa!1

38

'*he came to me when m! *iss! had the small o4) the onl! erson in town who would enter m! doors. .ore than that) when *iss! was u and I went to a! the doctor,s %ill I "ound it had %een settled. I did not $now then who had enough mone! and com assion to do this "or me) now I do.' .an! an act o" $indness which had %een secretl! er"ormed in that town during the last twent! !ears came to light on that da!# the most nota%le o" which was the sending o" a certain !oung lad to school and his su%se0uent education as a minister. 6ut other memories o" a sweeter and more secret nature still came u among them the "ollowing1 li$ewise#

A !oung girl# who was o" a ver! timid %ut dee l! sensitive nature# had %een urged into an engagement with a man she did not li$e. Though the con"lict this occasioned her and the miser! which accom anied it were a arent to ever!%od!# no%od! stirred in her %ehal" %ut Agatha. *he went to see her# and# though it was within a "ortnight o" the wedding# she did not hesitate to advise the girl to give him u # and when the oor child said she lac$ed the courage# Agatha hersel" went to the man and urged him into a dis la! o" generosit! which saved the oor# timid thing "rom a li"e o" miser!. The! sa! this was no eas! tas$ "or Agatha# and that the man was sullen "or a !ear. 6ut the girl,s gratitude was %oundless. O" her daring# which was alwa!s on the side o" right and 3ustice# the stories were numerous) so were the accounts# mostl! among the women# o" her rare tenderness and s!m ath! "or the wea$ and the erring. Never was a man tal$ed to as she tal$ed to 8a$e Co%leigh the evening a"ter he struc$ his mother# and i" she had %een in town on the da! when Clarissa .a!hew ran awa! with that 5hiladel hia adventurer man! said it would never have ha ened# "or no girl could stand the admonition# or resist the leading# o" this childless mother. It was reserved "or .r. Hallida! and .r. *utherland to tal$ o" her mental 0ualities. Her character was so mar$ed and her manner so sim le that "ew gave attention to the intellect that was the real %asis o" her ower. The two mentioned gentlemen# however# a reciated her to the "ull# and it was while listening to their remar$s that Frederic$ was suddenl! startled %! some one sa!ing to him1 'You are the onl! erson in town who have nothing to sa! a%out Agatha +e%%. /idn,t !ou ever e4change an! words with her-&&"or I can hardl! %elieve !ou could have met her e!e to e!e without having some remar$ to ma$e a%out her %eaut! or her in"luence.'

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The s ea$er was Agnes Hallida!# who had come in with her "ather "or a social chat. *he was one o" Frederic$,s earliest la!mates# %ut one with whom he had never assimilated and who did not li$e him. He $new this# as did ever!one else in town# and it was with some hesitation he turned to answer her. 'I have %ut one recollection#' he %egan# and "or the moment got no "arther# "or in turning his head to address his !oung guest he had allowed his ga7e to wander through the o en window %! which she sat# into the garden %e!ond# where Ama%el could %e seen ic$ing "lowers. As he s o$e# Ama%el li"ted her "ace with one o" her suggestive loo$s. *he had dou%tless heard .iss Hallida!,s remar$. Recovering himsel" with an e""ort# he re eated his words1 'I have %ut one recollection o" .rs. +e%% that I can give !ou. Years ago when I was a lad I was la!ing on the green with several other %o!s. +e had had some dis ute a%out a lost %all# and I was swearing angril! and loud when I suddenl! erceived %e"ore me the tall "orm and com assionate "ace o" .rs. +e%%. *he was dressed in her usual sim le wa!# and had a %as$et on her arm# %ut she loo$ed so su erior to an! other woman I had ever met that I did not $now whether to hide m! "ace in her s$irts or to "ollow m! "irst im ulse and run awa!. *he saw the emotion she had aroused# and li"ting u m! "ace %! the chin# she said1 ,Little %o!# I have %uried si4 children# all o" them !ounger than !ou# and now m! hus%and and m!sel" live alone. O"ten and o"ten have I wished that one at least o" these darling in"ants might have %een s ared us. 6ut had 2od given me the choice o" having them die !oung and innocent# or o" growing u to swear as I have heard !ou to&da!# I should have ra!ed 2od to ta$e them# as He did. You have a mother. /o not %rea$ her heart %! ta$ing in vain the name o" the 2od she reveres., And with that she $issed me# and# strange as it ma! seem to !ou# in whatever "oll! or wic$edness I have indulged# I have never made use o" an oath "rom that da! to this&& and I than$ 2od "or it.' There was such unusual "eeling in his voice# a "eeling that none had ever sus ected him ca a%le o" %e"ore# that .iss Hallida! regarded him with astonishment and 0uite "orgot to indulge in her usual %anter. Even the gentlemen sat still# and there was a momentar! silence# through which there resentl! %ro$e the incongruous sound o" a shrill and moc$ing laugh. It came "rom Ama%el# who had 3ust "inished gathering her %ou0uet in the garden outside. C. /ETECTI=E 9NA55 ARRI=E* .eanwhile# in a small room at the court&house# a still more serious conversation was in rogress. /r. Tal%ot# .r. Fenton# and a certain a%le

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law!er in town %! the name o" Harve!# were in close discussion. The last had %ro$en the silence o" !ears# and was telling what he $new o" .rs. +e%%,s a""airs. He was a shrewd man# o" un%lemished re utation. +hen called u on to tal$# he tal$ed well# %ut he much re"erred listening# and was# as now a eared# the sa"est re ositor! o" secrets to %e "ound in all that region. He had %een married three times# and could still count thirteen children around his %oard# one reason# erha s# wh! he had learned to cultivate silence to such a degree. Ha il!# the time had come "or him to tal$# and he tal$ed. This is what he said1 '*ome "i"teen !ears ago 5hilemon +e%% came to me with a small sum o" mone!# which he said he wished to have me invest "or his wi"e. It was the "ruit o" a small s eculation o" his and he wanted it given unconditionall! to her without her $nowledge or that o" the neigh%ours. I accordingl! made out a deed o" gi"t# which he signed with 3o!"ul alacrit!# and then a"ter due thought and care"ul investigation# I ut the mone! into a new enter rise then %eing started in 6oston. It was the %est stro$e o" %usiness I ever did in m! li"e. At the end o" a !ear it aid dou%le# and a"ter "ive had rolled awa! the accumulated interest had reached such a sum that %oth 5hilemon and m!sel" thought it wisest to let her $now what she was worth and what was %eing done with the mone!. I was in ho es it would lead her to ma$e some change in her mode o" living# which seemed to me out o" $ee ing with her a earance and mental 0uali"ications) while he# I imagine# loo$ed "or something more im ortant still&&a smile on the "ace which had somehow lost the tric$ o" merriment# though it had never ac0uired that o" ill nature. 6ut we did not $now Agatha) at least I did not. +hen she learned that she was rich# she loo$ed at "irst awestruc$ and then heart& ierced. Forgetting me# or ignoring me# it ma$es no matter which# she threw hersel" into 5hilemon,s arms and we t# while he# oor "aith"ul "ellow# loo$ed as distressed as i" he had %rought news o" "ailure instead o" trium hant success. I su ose she thought o" her %uried children# and what the mone! would have %een to her i" the! had lived) %ut she did not s ea$ o" them# nor am I 0uite sure the! were in her thoughts when# a"ter the "irst e4citement was over# she drew %ac$ and said 0uietl!# %ut in a tone o" strong "eeling# to 5hilemon1 ,You meant me a ha ! sur rise# and !ou must not %e disa ointed. This is heart mone!) we will use it to ma$e our towns"ol$ ha !., I saw him glance at her dress# which was a ur le calico. I remem%er it %ecause o" that loo$ and %ecause o" the sad smile with which she "ollowed his glance. ,Can we not a""ord now#, he ventured# ,a little show o" lu4ur!# or at least a ri%%on or so "or this %eauti"ul throat o" !ours-, *he did not answer him) %ut her loo$ had a rare com assion in it# a com assion# strange to sa!# that seemed to %e e4 ended u on him rather than u on hersel". 5hilemon swallowed his disa ointment. ,Agatha is right#, he said to me. ,+e do not need lu4ur!. I do not $now how I so "ar "orgot m!sel" as to mention it., That was ten !ears ago# and ever! da! since then her

41

ro ert! has increased. I did not $now then# and I do not $now now# wh! the! were %oth so an4ious that all $nowledge o" their good "ortune should %e $e t "rom those a%out them) %ut that it was to %e Do $e t was made ver! evident to me) and# notwithstanding all tem tations to the contrar!# I have re"rained "rom uttering a word li$el! to give awa! their secret. The mone!# which to all a earance was the cause o" her tragic and untimel! death# was interest mone! which I was delegated to deliver her. I too$ it to her da! %e"ore !esterda!# and it was all in cris new notes# some o" them twenties# %ut most o" them tens and "ives. I am "ree to sa! there was not such another roll o" "resh mone! in town.' '+arn all sho $ee ers to $ee a shar loo$out "or new %ills in the mone! the! receive#' was /r. Tal%ot,s comment to the consta%le. 'Fresh ten&and twent!&dollar %ills are none too common in this town. And now a%out her will. /id !ou draw that u # Harve!-' 'No. I did not $now she had made one. I o"ten s o$e to her a%out the advisa%ilit! o" her doing so# %ut she alwa!s ut me o"". And now it seems that she had it drawn u in 6oston. Could not trust her old "riend with too man! secrets# I su ose.' '*o !ou don,t $now how her mone! has %een le"t-' 'No more than !ou do.' Here an interru tion occurred. The door o ened and a slim !oung man# wearing s ectacles# came in. At sight o" him the! all rose. '+ell-' eagerl! in0uired /r. Tal%ot. 'Nothing new#' answered the !oung man# with a conse0uential air. 'The elder woman died "rom loss o" %lood conse0uent u on a %low given %! a small# three& sided# slender %lade) the !ounger "rom a stro$e o" a o le4!# induced %! "right.' '2ood( I am glad to hear m! instincts were not at "ault. Loss o" %lood# eh- /eath# then# was not instantaneous-' 'No.' '*trange(' "ell "rom the li s o" his two listeners. '*he lived# !et gave no alarm.' 'None that was heard#' suggested the !oung doctor# who was "rom another town.

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'Or# i" heard# reached no ears %ut 5hilemon,s#' o%served the consta%le. '*omething must have ta$en him u stairs.' 'I am not so sure#' said the coroner# 'that 5hilemon is not answera%le "or the whole crime# notwithstanding our "ailure to "ind the missing mone! an!where in the house. How else account "or the resignation with which she evidentl! met her death- Had a stranger struc$ her# Agatha +e%% would have struggled. There is no sign o" struggle in the room.' '*he would have struggled against 5hilemon had she had strength to struggle. I thin$ she was aslee when she was struc$.' 'Ah( And was not standing %! the ta%le- How a%out the %lood there# then-' '*ha$en "rom the murderer,s "ingers in "right or disgust.' 'There was no %lood on 5hilemon,s "ingers.' 'No) he wi ed them on his sleeve.' 'I" he was the one to use the dagger against her# where is the dagger- *hould we not %e a%le to "ind it somewhere a%out the remises-' 'He ma! have %uried it outside. Cra7! men are su er naturall! cunning.' '+hen !ou can roduce it "rom an! lace inside that %oard "ence# I will consider !our theor!. At resent I limit m! sus icions o" 5hilemon to the hal"&unconscious attentions which a man o" disordered intellect might give a wi"e %leeding and d!ing under his e!es. .! idea on the su%3ect is&&&' '+ould !ou %e so $ind as not to give utterance to !our ideas until I have %een a%le to "orm some "or m!sel"-' interru ted a voice "rom the doorwa!. As this voice was une4 ected# the! all turned. A small man with slee$ dar$ hair and e4 ressionless "eatures stood %e"ore them. 6ehind him was A%el# carr!ing a hand& %ag and um%rella. 'The detective "rom 6oston#' announced the latter. Coroner Tal%ot rose. 'You are in good time#' he remar$ed. '+e have wor$ o" no ordinar! nature "or !ou.' The man "ailed to loo$ interested. 6ut then his countenance was not one to show emotion.

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'.! name is 9na #' said he. 'I have had m! su er# and am read! to go to wor$. I have read the news a ers) all I want now is an! additional "acts that have come to light since the telegra hic dis atches were sent to 6oston. Facts# mind !ou) not theories. I never allow m!sel" to %e ham ered %! other ersons, theories.' Not li$ing his manner# which was %rus0ue and too sel"&im ortant "or a man o" such insigni"icant a earance# Coroner Tal%ot re"erred him to .r. Fenton# who immediatel! roceeded to give him the result o" such investigations as he and his men had %een a%le to ma$e) which done# .r. 9na ut on his hat and turned toward the door. 'I will go to the house and see "or m!sel" what is to %e learned there#' said he. '.a! I as$ the rivilege o" going alone-' he added# as .r. Fenton moved. 'A%el will see that I am given admittance.' '*how me !our credentials#' said the coroner. He did so. 'The! seem all right# and !ou should %e a man who understands his %usiness. 2o alone# i" !ou re"er# %ut %ring !our conclusions here. The! ma! need some correcting.' 'Oh# I will return#' 9na nonchalantl! remar$ed# and went out# having made an!thing %ut a "avoura%le im ression u on the assem%led gentlemen. 'I wish we had shown more grit and tried to handle this thing ourselves#' o%served .r. Fenton. 'I cannot %ear to thin$ o" that cold# %loodless creature hovering over our %eloved Agatha.' 'I wonder at Carson. +h! should he send us such a man- Could he not see the matter demanded e4traordinar! s$ill and 3udgment-' 'Oh# this "ellow ma! have s$ill. 6ut he is so un leasant. I hate to deal with "ol$s o" such "ish&li$e characteristics. 6ut who is this-' he as$ed as a gentle ta was heard at the door. '+h!# it,s Loton. +hat can he want here-' The man whose resence in the doorwa! had called out this e4clamation started at the sound o" the doctor,s heav! voice# and came ver! hesitatingl! "orward. He was o" a wea$# irrita%le t! e# and seemed to %e in a state o" great e4citement. 'I %eg ardon#' said he# '"or showing m!sel". I don,t li$e to intrude into such com an!# %ut I have something to tell !ou which ma! %e o" use# sirs# though it isn,t an! great thing# either.' '*omething a%out the murder which has ta$en lace-' as$ed the coroner# in a milder tone. He $new Loton well# and realised the advisa%ilit! o" encouragement in his case.

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'The murder( Oh# I wouldn,t resume to sa! an!thing a%out the murder. I,m not the man to stir u an! such su%3ect as that. It,s a%out the mone!&&or some mone!&&more mone! than usuall! "alls into m! till. It&&it was rather 0ueer# sirs# and I have "elt the "lutter o" it all da!. *hall I tell !ou a%out it- It ha ened last night# late last night# sirs# so late that I was in %ed with m! wi"e# and had %een snoring# she said# "our hours.' '+hat mone!- New mone!- Cris # "resh %ills# Loton-' eagerl! 0uestioned .r. Fenton. Loton# who was the $ee er o" a small con"ectioner! and %a$er! store on one o" the side streets leading u the hill# shi"ted uneasil! %etween his two interrogators# and "inall! addressed himsel" to the coroner1 'It was new mone!. I thought it "elt so at night# %ut I was sure o" it in the morning. A %rand&new %ill# sir# a&&6ut that isn,t the 0ueerest thing a%out it. I was aslee # sir# sound aslee # and dreaming o" m! courting da!s :"or I as$ed *all! at the circus# sirs# and the %and la!ing on the hill made me thin$ o" it;# when I was suddenl! shoo$ awa$e %! *all! hersel"# who sa!s she hadn,t sle t a win$ "or listening to the music and wishing she was a girl again. ,There,s a man at the sho door#, cries she. ,He,s a& calling o" !ou) go and see what he wants., I was mad at %eing wa$ened. /reaming is leasant# s eciall! when clowns and $issing get mi4ed u in it# %ut dut! is dut!# and so into the sho I stum%led# swearing a %it erha s# "or I hadn,t sto ed "or a light and it was as dar$ as dou%le shutters could ma$e it. The hammering had %ecome dea"ening. No let u till I reached the door# when it suddenl! ceased. ',+hat is it-, I cried. ,+ho,s there and what do !ou want-, 'A trem%ling voice answered me. ,Let me in#, it said. ,I want to %u! something to eat. For 2od,s sa$e# o en the door(, 'I don,t $now wh! I o%e!ed# "or it was late# and I did not $now the voice# %ut something in the im atient rattling o" the door which accom anied the words a""ected me in s ite o" m!sel"# and I slowl! o ened m! sho to this midnight customer. ',You must %e hungr!#, I %egan. 6ut the erson who had crowded in as soon as the o ening was large enough wouldn,t let me "inish. ',6read( I want %read# or crac$ers# or an!thing that !ou can "ind easiest#, he gas ed# li$e a man who had %een running. ,Here,s mone!,) and he o$ed into m! hand a %ill so sti"" that it rattled. ,It,s more than enough#, he hastened to sa!# as I hesitated over it# ,%ut never mind that) I,ll come "or the change in the morning.,

45

',+ho are !ou- I cried. ,You are not 6lind +ill!# I,m sure., '6ut his onl! answer was ,6read(, while he leaned so hard against the counter I "elt it sha$e. 'I could not stand that cr! o" ,6read(, so I gro ed a%out in the dar$# and "ound him a stale loa"# which I ut into his arms# with a short# ,There( Now tell me what !our name is., '6ut at this he seemed to shrin$ into himsel") and muttering something that might ass "or than$s# he stum%led towards the door and rushed hastil! out. Running a"ter him# I listened eagerl! to his ste s. The! went u the hill.' 'And the mone!- +hat a%out the mone!-' as$ed the coroner. '/idn,t he come %ac$ "or the change-' 'No. I ut it in the till# thin$ing it was a dollar %ill. 6ut when I came to loo$ at it in the morning# it was a twent!) !es# sirs# a twent!(' This was startling. The coroner and the consta%le loo$ed at each other %e"ore loo$ing again at him. 'And where is that %ill now-' as$ed the "ormer. 'Have !ou %rought it with !ou-' 'I have# sir. It,s %een in and out o" the till twent! times to& da!. I haven,t $nown what to do with it. I don,t li$e to thin$ wrong o" an!%od!# %ut when I heard that .rs. +e%% :2od %less her(; was murdered last night "or mone!# I couldn,t rest "or the weight o" this thing on m! conscience. Here,s the %ill# sir. I wish I had let the old man ra on m! door till morning %e"ore I had ta$en it "rom him.' The! did not share this "eeling. A distinct and valua%le clew seemed to %e a""orded them %! the "resh# cris %ill the! saw in his hand. *ilentl! /r. Tal%ot too$ it# while .r. Fenton# with a shrewd loo$# as$ed1 '+hat reasons have !ou "or calling this m!sterious customer old- I thought it was so dar$ !ou could not see him.' The man# who loo$ed relieved since he had rid himsel" o" the %ill# e!ed the consta%le in some er le4it!. 'I didn,t see a "eature o" his "ace#' said he# 'and !et I,m sure he was old. I never thought o" him as %eing an!thing else.' '+ell# we will see. And is that all !ou have to tell us-'

46

His nod was e4 ressive# and the! let him go. An hour or so later /etective 9na made his rea earance. '+ell#' as$ed the coroner# as he came 0uietl! in and closed the door %ehind him# 'what,s !our o inion-' '*im le case# sir. .urdered "or mone!. Find the man with a "lowing %eard.' CI. THE .AN +ITH A 6EAR/ There were %ut "ew men in town who wore long %eards. A list was made o" these and handed to the coroner# who regarded it with a grim smile. 'Not a man whose name is here would %e guilt! o" a misdemeanour# let alone a crime. You must loo$ outside o" our village o ulation "or the murderer o" Agatha +e%%.' '=er! li$el!# %ut tell me something "irst a%out these ersons#' urged 9na Edward Ho e-' 'A watch re airer) a man o" estima%le character.' 'And *!lvester Chu%%-' 'A "armer who# to su ort his mother# wi"e# and seven children# wor$s "rom morning till sundown on his "arm# and "rom sundown till ?? o,cloc$ at night on little "anc! articles he cuts out "rom wood and sells in 6oston.' '8ohn 6ar$er# Thomas Elder# Timoth! *inn-' 'All good men) I can vouch "or ever! one o" them.' 'And 8ohn <a%el# 8ames <a%el-' 'Irre roacha%le# %oth o" them. Famous shi %uilders once# %ut the change to iron shi %uilding has thrown them out o" %usiness. 5it!# too# "or the! were remar$a%le %uilders. 6! the %!# Fenton# we don,t see them at church or on the doc$s an! more.' 'No# the! $ee ver! much to themselves) getting old# li$e ourselves# Tal%ot.' 'Livel! %o!s once. +e must hunt them u # Fenton. Can,t %ear to see old "riends dro awa! "rom good com an!. 6ut this isn,t %usiness. You need not ause over their names# 9na .' . '+ho is

47

6ut 9na

had sli

ed out.

+e will "ollow him. +al$ing %ris$l! down the street# he went u the ste s o" a certain house and rang the %ell. A gentleman with a "ace not entirel! un$nown to us came to the door. The detective did not ause "or reliminaries. 'Are !ou .r. Crane-' he as$ed#&&'the gentleman who ran against a man coming out o" .rs. +e%%,s house last night-' 'I am .r. Crane#' was the slightl! sur rised re3oinder# 'and I was run against %! a man there# !es.' '=er! well#' remar$ed the detective# 0uietl!# 'm! name is 9na . I have %een sent "rom 6oston to loo$ into this matter# and I have an idea that !ou can hel me more than an! other man here in *utherlandtown. +ho was this erson who came in contact with !ou so violentl!- You $now# even i" !ou have %een care"ul not to mention an! names.' 'You are mista$en. I don,t $now) I can,t $now. He wore a swee ing %eard# and wal$ed and acted li$e a man no longer !oung# %ut %e!ond that&&&' '.r. Crane# e4cuse me# %ut I $now men. I" !ou had no sus icion as to whom that erson was !ou would not loo$ so em%arrassed. You sus ect# or# at least# associate in !our own mind a name with the man !ou met. +as it either o" these !ou see written here-' .r. Crane glanced at the card on which the other had scri%%led a cou le o" names# and started erce ti%l!. 'You have me#' said he) '!ou must %e a man o" remar$a%le ers icacit!.' The detective smiled and oc$eted his card. The names he thus concealed were 8ohn <a%el# 8ames <a%el. 'You have not said which o" the two it was#' 9na 0uietl! suggested. 'No#' returned the minister# 'and I have not even thought. Indeed# I am not sure that I have not made a dread"ul mista$e in thin$ing it was either. A glim se such as I had is "ar "rom satis"actor!) and the! are %oth such e4cellent men&&&'

48

'Eight( You did ma$e a mista$e# o" course# I have not the least dou%t o" it. *o don,t thin$ o" the matter again. I will "ind out who the real man was) rest eas!.' And with the lightest o" %ows# 9na drew o"" and assed as 0uic$l! as he could# without attracting attention# round the corner to the con"ectioner,s. Here his attac$ was warier. *all! Loton was %ehind the counter with her hus%and# and the! had evidentl! %een tal$ing the matter over ver! con"identiall!. 6ut 9na was not to %e awed %! her small# $een e!e or strident voice# and resentl! succeeded in sur rising a $nowing loo$ on the lad!,s "ace# which convinced him that in the con"idences %etween hus%and and wi"e a name had %een used which she a eared to %e less unwilling to im art than he. 9na # conse0uentl!# turned his "ull attention towards her# using in his attac$ that oldest and su%tlest wea on against the se4&& "latter!. '.! dear madam#' said he# '!our good heart is a arent) !our hus%and has con"ided to !ou a name which !ou# out o" "ear o" some mista$e# hesitate to re eat. A neigh%ourl! s irit# ma,am# a ver! neigh%ourl! s irit) %ut !ou should not allow !our goodness to de"eat the ends o" 3ustice. I" !ou sim l! told us whom this man resem%led we would %e a%le to get some idea o" his a earance.' 'He didn,t resem%le an!one I $now#' growled Loton. 'It was too dar$ "or me to see how he loo$ed.' 'His voice# then- 5eo le are traced %! their voices.' 'I didn,t recognise his voice.' 9na smiled# his e!e still on the woman. 'Yet !ou have thought o" someone he reminded !ou o"-' The man was silent# %ut the wi"e tossed her head ever so lightl!. 'Now# !ou must have had !our reasons "or that. No one thin$s o" a good and res ecta%le neigh%our in connection with the %u!ing o" a loa" o" %read at mid&night with a twent!&dollar %ill# without some ositive reason.' 'The man wore a %eard. I "elt it %rush m! hand as he too$ the loa".' '2ood( That is a oint.' '+hich made me thin$ o" other men who wore %eards.' 'As# "or instance&&&'

49

The detective had ta$en "rom his oc$et the card which he had used with such e""ect at the minister,s# and as he said these words twirled it so that the two names written u on it "ell under *all! Loton,s in0uisitive e!es. The loo$ with which she read them was enough. 8ohn <a%el# 8ames <a%el. '+ho told !ou it was either o" these men-' she as$ed. 'You did#' he retorted# oc$eting the card with a smile. 'La# now( *amuel# I never s o$e a word#' she insisted# in an4ious hus%and# as the detective slid 0uietl! "rom the store. CII. +ATTLE* CO.E* The Hallida!s lived %ut a "ew rods "rom the *utherlands. Yet as it was dus$ when .iss Hallida! rose to de art# Frederic$ naturall! o""ered his services as her escort. *he acce ted them with a slight %lush# the "irst he had ever seen on her "ace# or at least had ever noted there. It caused him such sur rise that he "orgot Ama%el,s resence in the garden till the! came u on her at the gate. 'A leasant evening#' o%served that !oung girl in her high# unmusical voice. '=er!#' was .iss Hallida!,s short re l!) and "or a moment the two "aces were in line as he held o en the gate %e"ore his de arting guest. The! were ver! di""erent "aces in "eature and e4 ression# and till that night he had never thought o" com aring them. Indeed# the "ascination which %eamed "rom Ama%el 5age,s "ar "rom regular "eatures had ut all others out o" his mind# %ut now# as he surve!ed the two girls# the candour and urit! which mar$ed Agnes,s countenance came out so strongl! under his glance that Ama%el lost all attraction "or him# and he drew his !oung neigh%our hastil! awa!. Ama%el noted the movement and smiled. Her contem t "or Agnes Hallida!,s charms amounted to disdain. *he might have "elt less con"idence in her own had she %een in a osition to note the "re0uent glances Frederic$ cast at his old la!mate as the! roceeded slowl! u the road. Not that there was an! assion in them&&he was too "ull o" care "or that) %ut the curiosit! which could rom t him to turn his head a do7en times in the course o" so short a wal$# to see wh! Agnes Hallida! held her "ace so ersistentl! awa! "rom him# had an element o" "eeling in it that was more or less signi"icant. As "or Agnes# she was so unli$e her accustomed sel" as to astonish even hersel". +hereas she had never rotest to her

50

%e"ore wal$ed a do7en ste s with him without indulging in some shar sa!ing# she "ound hersel" disinclined to s ea$ at all# much less to s ea$ lightl!. In mutual silence# then# the! reached the gatewa! leading into the Hallida! grounds. 6ut Agnes having assed in# the! %oth sto ed and "or the "irst time loo$ed s0uarel! at each other. Her e!es "ell "irst# erha s %ecause his had changed in his contem lation o" her. He smiled as he saw this# and in a hal"&careless# hal"&wist"ul tone# said 0uietl!1 'Agnes# what would !ou thin$ o" a man who# a"ter having committed little else %ut "oll! all his li"e# suddenl! made u his mind to turn a%solutel! toward the right and to ursue it in "ace o" ever! o%stacle and ever! discouragement-' 'I should thin$#' she slowl! re lied# with one 0uic$ li"t o" her e!es toward his "ace# 'that he had entered u on the no%lest e""ort o" which man is ca a%le# and the hardest. I should have great s!m ath! "or that man# Frederic$.' '+ould !ou-' he said# recalling Ama%el,s "ace with %itter aversion as he ga7ed into the womanl! countenance he had hitherto slighted as uninteresting. 'It is the "irst $ind word !ou have ever given me# Agnes. 5ossi%l! it is the "irst I have ever deserved.' And without another word he do""ed his hat# saluted her# and vanished down the hillside. *he remained) remained so long that it was nearl! nine when she entered the "amil! arlour. As she came in her mother loo$ed u and was startled at her unaccustomed allor. '+h!# Agnes#' cried her mother# 'what is the matter-' Her answer was inaudi%le. +hat was the matter- *he dreaded# even "eared# to as$ hersel". .eantime a strange scene was ta$ing lace in the woods toward which she had seen Frederic$ go. The moon# which was articularl! %right that night# shone u on a certain hollow where a huge tree la!. Around it the under%rush was thic$ and the shadow dar$# %ut in this es ecial lace the o ening was large enough "or the ra!s to enter "reel!. Into this circlet o" light Frederic$ *utherland had come. Alone and without the restraint im osed u on him %! watching e!es# he showed a countenance so wan and "ull o" trou%le that it was well it could not %e seen %! either o" the two women whose thoughts were at that moment "i4ed u on him. To Ama%el it would have given a thro% o" sel"ish ho e# while to Agnes it would have %rought a ang o" des air which might have somewhat too suddenl! inter reted to her the m!ster! o" her own sensations.

51

He had %ent at once to the hollow s ace made %! the outs reading roots 3ust mentioned# and was "eeling with an air o" con"idence along the ground "or something he had ever! reason to e4 ect to "ind# when the shoc$ o" a sudden distrust sei7ed him# and he "lung himsel" down in terror# "eeling and "eeling again among the "allen leaves and %ro$en twigs# till a "ull realisation o" his mis"ortune reached him# and he was o%liged to ac$nowledge that the lace was em t!. Overwhelmed at his loss# aghast at the conse0uences it must entail u on him# he rose in a trem%ling sweat# cr!ing out in his anger and disma!1 '*he has %een here( *he has ta$en it(' And realising "or the "irst time the su%tlet! and strength o" the antagonist itted against him# he "orgot his new resolutions and even that old romise made in his childhood to Agatha +e%%# and uttered oath a"ter oath# cursing himsel"# the woman# and what she had done# till a casual glance at the heavens overhead# in which the li0uid moon hung calm and %eauti"ul# recalled him to himsel". +ith a sense o" shame# the $eener that it was a new sensation in his %reast# he ceased his vain re inings# and turning "rom the unhallowed s ot# made his wa! with dee er and dee er misgivings toward a home made hate"ul to him now %! the resence o" the woman who was thus %ent u on his ruin. He understood her now. He rated at its "ull value %oth her determination and her ower# and had she %een so un"ortunate as to have carried her im rudence to the oint o" sur rising him %! her resence# it would have ta$en more than the memor! o" that da!,s solemn resolves to have $e t him "rom using his strength against her. 6ut she was wise# and did not intrude u on him in his hour o" anger# though who could sa! she was not near enough to hear the sigh which %ro$e irresisti%l! "rom his li s as he emerged "rom the wood and a roached his "ather,s houseA lam was still %urning in .r. *utherland,s stud! over the "ront door# and the sight o" it seemed to change "or a moment the current o" Frederic$,s thoughts. 5ausing at the gate# he considered with himsel"# and then with a "reer countenance and a lighter ste was a%out to roceed inward# when he heard the sound o" a heav! %reather coming u the hill# and hesitated&&wh! he hardl! $new# e4ce t that ever! advancing ste occasioned him more or less a rehension. The erson# whoever it was# sto ed %e"ore reaching the %row o" the hill# and# anting heavil!# muttered an oath which Frederic$ heard. Though it was no more ro"ane than those which had 3ust esca ed his own li s in the "orest# it roduced an e""ect u on him which was onl! second in intensit! to the terror o" the discover! that the mone! he had so sa"el! hidden was gone.

52

Trem%ling in ever! lim%# he dashed down the hill and con"ronted the erson standing there. 'You(' he cried# '!ou(' And "or a moment he loo$ed as i" he would li$e to "ell to the ground the man %e"ore him. 6ut this man was a heav!weight o" no ordinar! h!sical strength and adroitness# and onl! smiled at Frederic$,s heat and threatening attitude. 'I thought I would %e made welcome#' he smiled# with 3ust the hint o" sinister meaning in his tone. Then# %e"ore Frederic$ could s ea$1 'I have merel! saved !ou a tri to 6oston) wh! so much anger# "riend- You have the mone!) o" that I am ositive.' 'Hush( +e can,t tal$ here#' whis ered Frederic$. 'Come into the grounds# or# what would %e %etter# into the woods over there.' 'I don,t go into an! woods with !ou#' laughed the other) 'not a"ter last night# m! "riend. 6ut I will tal$ low) that,s no more than "air) I don,t want to ut !ou into an! other man,s ower# es eciall! i" !ou have the mone!.' '+attles#'&&Frederic$,s tone was %ro$en# almost unintelligi%le#&& 'what do !ou mean %! !our allusion to last night- Have !ou dared to connect me&&&' '5ooh( 5ooh(' interru ted the other# good&humouredl!. '/on,t let us waste words over a chance e4 ression I ma! have dro ed. I don,t care an!thing a%out last night,s wor$# or who was concerned in it. That,s nothing to me. All I want# m! %o!# is the mone!# and that I want devilish %ad# or I would not have run u here "rom 6oston# when I might have made hal" a hundred o"" a countr!man Lewis %rought in "rom the Canada wilds this morning.' '+attles# I swear&&&' 6ut the hand he had raised was 0uic$l! drawn down %! the other. '/on,t#' said the older man# shortl!. 'It won,t a!# *utherland. *tage&tal$ never assed "or an!thing with me. 6esides# !our white "ace tells a truer stor! than !our li s# and time is recious. I want to ta$e the ?? o,cloc$ train %ac$. *o down with the cash. Nine hundred and "i"t!&"ive it is# %ut# %eing "riends# we will let the odd "ive go.' '+attles# I was to %ring it to !ou to&morrow# or was it the ne4t da!- I do not want to give it to !ou to&night) indeed# I cannot# %ut&&+attles# wait# sto ( +here are !ou going-'

53

'To see !our "ather. I want to tell him that his son owes me a de%t) that this de%t was incurred in a wa! that la!s him lia%le to arrest "or "orger!) that# %ad as he thin$s !ou# there are "acts which can %e ic$ed u in 6oston which would render Frederic$ *utherland,s continued residence under the arental roo" im ossi%le) that# in "act# !ou are a scam o" the "irst water# and that onl! m! "riendshi "or !ou has $e t !ou out o" rison so long. +on,t that ma$e a nice stor! "or the old gentleman,s ears(' '+attles&&I&&oh# m! 2od( +attles# sto a minute and listen to me. I have not got the mone!. I had enough this morning to a! !ou# had it legitimatel!# +attles# %ut it has %een stolen "rom me and&& &' 'I will also tell him#' the other %ro$e in# as 0uietl! as i" Frederic$ had not uttered a word# 'that in a certain visit to 6oston !ou lost "ive hundred dollars on one hand) that !ou lost it un"airl!# not having a dollar to a! with) that to revent scandal I %e came !our securit!# with the understanding that I was to %e aid at the end o" ten da!s "rom that night) that !ou thereu on la!ed again and lost "our hundred and odd more# so that !our de%t amounted to nine hundred and "i"t!&"ive dollars) that the ten da!s assed without a!ment) that# wanting mone!# I ressed !ou and even resorted to a threat or two) and that# seeing me in earnest# !ou swore that the dollars should %e mine within "ive da!s) that instead o" remaining in 6oston to get them# !ou came here) and that this morning at a ver! earl! hour !ou telegra hed that the "unds were to hand and that !ou would %ring them down to me to& morrow. The old gentleman ma! draw conclusions "rom this# *utherland# which ma! ma$e his osition as !our "ather an!thing %ut grate"ul to him. He ma! even&&Ah# !ou would tr! that game# would !ou-' The !oung man had "lung himsel" at the older man,s throat as i" he would cho$e o"" the words he saw trem%ling on his li s. 6ut the struggle thus %egun was short. In a moment %oth stood anting# and Frederic$# with lowered head# was sa!ing hum%l!1 'I %eg ardon# +attles# %ut !ou drive me mad with !our suggestions and conclusions. I have not got the mone!# %ut I will tr! and get it. +ait here.' 'For ten minutes# *utherland) no longer( The moon is %right# and I can see the hands o" m! watch distinctl!. At a 0uarter to ten# !ou will return here with the amount I have mentioned# or I will see$ it at !our "ather,s hands in his own stud!.' Frederic$ made a hurried gesture and vanished u the wal$. Ne4t moment he was at his "ather,s stud! door. CIII. +ATTLE* 2OE*

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.r. *utherland was %usil! engaged with a law a er when his son entered his resence# %ut at sigh o" that son,s "ace# he dro ed the a er with an alacrit! which Frederic$ was too much engaged with his own thoughts to notice. 'Father#' he %egan without ream%le or e4cuse# 'I am in serious and immediate need o" nine hundred and "i"t! dollars. I want it so much that I as$ !ou to ma$e me a chec$ "or that amount to&night# conscious though I am that !ou have ever! right to den! me this re0uest# and that m! de%t to !ou alread! asses the %ound o" resum tion on m! art and indulgence on !ours. I cannot tell !ou wh! I want it or "or what. That %elongs to m! ast li"e# the conse0uences o" which I have not !et esca ed# %ut I "eel %ound to state that !ou will not %e the loser %! this material roo" o" con"idence in me# as I shall soon %e in a osition to re a! all m! de%ts# among which this will necessaril! stand "oremost.' The old gentleman loo$ed startled and nervousl! "ingered the a er he had let "all. '+h! do !ou sa! !ou will soon %e in a osition to re a! me- +hat do !ou mean %! that-' The "lash# which had not !et su%sided "rom the !oung man,s "ace# e%%ed slowl! awa! as he encountered his "ather,s e!e. 'I mean to wor$#' he murmured. 'I mean to ma$e a man o" m!sel" as soon as ossi%le.' The loo$ which .r. *utherland gave him was more in0uiring than s!m athetic. 'And !ou need this mone! "or a start-' said he. Frederic$ %owed) he seemed to %e losing the "acult! o" s eech. The cloc$ over the mantel had told o"" "ive o" the recious moments. 'I will give it to !ou#' said his "ather# and drew out his chec$& %oo$. 6ut he did not hasten to o en it) his e!es still rested on his son. 'Now#' murmured the !oung man. 'There is a train leaving soon. I wish to get it awa! on that train.' His "ather "rowned with natural distrust. 'I wish !ou would con"ide in me#' said he. Frederic$ did not answer. The hands o" the cloc$ were moving on. 'I will give it to !ou) %ut I should li$e to $now what "or.'

55

'It is im ossi%le "or me to tell !ou#' groaned the !oung man# starting as he heard a ste on the wal$ without. 'Your need has %ecome strangel! im erative#' 5age&&&' roceeded the other. 'Has .iss

Frederic$ too$ a ste "orward and laid his hand on his "ather,s arm. 'It is not "or her#' he whis ered. 'It goes into other hands.' .r. *utherland# who had turned over the document as his son a roached# %reathed more easil!. Ta$ing u his en# he di ed it in the in$. Frederic$ watched him with constantl! whitening chee$. The ste on the wal$ had mounted to the "ront door. 'Nine hundred and "i"t!-' in0uired the "ather. 'Nine hundred and "i"t!#' answered the son. The 3udge# with a last loo$# stoo ed over the %oo$. The hands o" the cloc$ ointed to a 0uarter to ten. 'Father# I have m! whole "uture in which to than$ !ou#' cried Frederic$# sei7ing the chec$ his "ather held out to him and ma$ing ra idl! "or the door. 'I will %e %ac$ %e"ore midnight.' And he "lung himsel" down&stairs 3ust as the "ront door o ened and +attles ste ed in. 'Ah#' e4claimed the latter# as his e!e "ell on the a er "luttering in the other,s hand# 'I e4 ected mone!# not a er.' 'The a er is good#' answered Frederic$# drawing him swi"tl! out o" the house. 'It has m! "ather,s signature u on it.' 'Your "ather,s signature-' 'Yes.' +attles gave it a loo$# then slowl! shoo$ his head at Frederic$. 'Is it as well done as the one !ou tried to ass o"" on 6rad!-' Frederic$ cringed# and "or a moment loo$ed as i" the struggle was too much "or him. Then he rallied and e!ing +attles "irml!# said1 'You have a right to distrust me# %ut !ou are on the wrong trac$# +attles. +hat I did once# I can never do again) and I ho e I ma! live to rove m!sel" a

56

changed man. As "or that chec$# I will soon rove its value in !our e!es. Follow me u &stairs to m! "ather.' His energ!&&the energ! o" des air# no dou%t seemed to ma$e an im ression on the other. 'You might as well roclaim !oursel" a "orger outright# as to "orce !our "ather to declare this to %e his signature#' he o%served. 'I $now it#' said Frederic$. 'Yet !ou will run that ris$-' 'I" !ou o%lige me.' +attles shrugged his shoulders. He was a magni"icent&loo$ing man and towered in that old colonial hall li$e a !outh"ul giant. 'I %ear !ou no ill will#' said he. 'I" this re resents mone!# I am satis"ied# and I %egin to thin$ it does. 6ut listen# *utherland. *omething has ha ened to !ou. A wee$ ago !ou would have ut a %ullet through m! head %e"ore !ou would have %een willing to have so com romised !oursel". I thin$ I $now what that something is. To save !oursel" "rom %eing thought guilt! o" a %ig crime !ou are willing to incur sus icion o" a small one. It,s a wise move# m! %o!# %ut loo$ out( No tric$s with me or m! "riendshi ma! not hold. .eantime# I cash this chec$ to&morrow.' And he swung awa! through the night with a grand&o era selection on his li s. CI=. A FINAL TE.5TATION Frederic$ loo$ed li$e a man thoroughl! e4hausted when the "inal echo o" this hate"ul voice died awa! on the hillside. For the last twent! hours he had %een the re! o" one harrowing emotion a"ter another# and human nature could endure no more without rest. 6ut rest would not come. The osition in which he "ound himsel"# %etween Ama%el and the man who had 3ust le"t# was o" too threatening a nature "or him to ignore. 6ut one means o" esca e resented itsel". It was a cowardl! one) %ut an!thing was %etter than to ma$e an attem t to stand his ground against two such merciless antagonists) so he resolved u on "light. 5ac$ing u a "ew necessaries and leaving a letter %ehind him "or his "ather# he made his wa! down the stairs o" the now dar$ened house to a door o ening u on the garden. To his astonishment he "ound it unloc$ed# %ut# giving little heed to this in his e4citement# he o ened it with caution# and# with

57

a arting sigh "or the sheltering home he was a%out to leave "orever# ste the house he no longer "elt worth! to inha%it.

ed "rom

His intention was to ta$e the train at 5ortchester# and that he might reach that lace without inconvenient encounters# he decided to roceed %! a short cut through the "ields. This led him north along the ridge that overloo$s the road running around the %ase o" the hill. He did not thin$ o" this road# however# or o" an!thing# in "act# %ut the necessit! o" ta$ing the ver! earliest train out o" 5ortchester. As this le"t at E.E@ A...# he realised that he must hasten in order to reach it. 6ut he was not destined to ta$e it or an! other train out o" 5ortchester that night# "or when he reached the "ence dividing .r. *utherland,s grounds "rom those o" his ad3oining neigh%our# he saw# drawn u in the moonlight 3ust at the oint where he had intended to lea the "ence# the "orm o" a woman with one hand held out to sto him. It was Ama%el. Con"ounded %! this chec$ and "illed with an anger that was nigh to dangerous# he "ell %ac$ and then immediatel! s rang "orward. '+hat are !ou doing here-' he cried. '/on,t !ou $now that it is eleven o,cloc$ and that m! "ather re0uires the house to %e closed at that hour-' 'And !ou-' was her sole retort) 'what are !ou doing here- Are !ou searching "or "lowers in the woods# and is that valise !ou carr! the rece tacle in which !ou ho e to ut !our %otanical s ecimens-' +ith a savage gesture he dro ed the valise and too$ her "iercel! %! the shoulders. '+here have !ou hidden m! mone!-' he hissed. 'Tell me# or&&&' 'Or what-' she as$ed# smiling into his "ace in a wa! that made him lose his gri . 'Or&&or I cannot answer "or m!sel"#' he roceeded# stammering. '/o !ou. thin$ I can endure ever!thing "rom !ou %ecause !ou are a woman- No) I will have those %ills# ever! one o" them# or show m!sel" !our master. +here are the!# !ou incarnate "iend-' It was an unwise word to use# %ut she did not seem to heed it. 'Ah#' she said so"tl!# and with a lingering accent# as i" his gras o" her had %een a caress to which she was not entirel! averse. 'I did not thin$ !ou would discover its loss so soon. +hen did !ou go to the woods# Frederic$- And was .iss Hallida! with !ou-'

58

He had a dis osition to stri$e her# %ut controlled himsel". 6lows would not avail against the so"tness o" this suave# !et merciless# %eing. Onl! a will as strong as her own could ho e to co e with this smiling "ur!) and this he was determined to show# though# alas( he had ever!thing to lose in a struggle that ro%%ed her o" nothing %ut a ho e which was %ut a %aseless "a%ric at %est) "or he was more than ever determined never to marr! her. 'A man does not need to wait long to miss his own#' said he. 'And i" !ou have ta$en this mone!# which# !ou do not den!# !ou have shown !oursel" ver! short&sighted# "or danger lies closer to the erson holding this mone! than to the one !ou vili"! %! !our threats. This !ou will "ind# Ama%el# when !ou come to ma$e use o" the wea on with which !ou have thought to arm !oursel".' 'Tut# tut(' was her contem tuous re l!. '/o !ou consider me a child- /o I loo$ li$e a %a%%ling in"ant# Frederic$-' Her "ace# which had %een li"ted to his in sa!ing this# was so illumined# %oth %! her smile# which was strangel! enchanting "or one so evil# and %! the moon&light# which so etherialises all that it touches# that he "ound himsel" "orced to recall that other urer# truer "ace he had le"t at the hone!suc$le orch to $ee down a last wild im ulse toward her# which would have %een his undoing# %oth in this world and the ne4t# as he $new. 'Or do I loo$ sim l! li$e a woman-' she went on# seeing the im ression she had made# and la!ing u on it. 'A woman who understands hersel" and !ou and all the secret erils o" the game we are %oth la!ing- I" I am a child# treat me as a child) %ut i" I am a woman&&&' '*tand out o" m! wa!(' he cried# catching u his valise and striding "uriousl! %! her. '+oman or child# $now that I will not %e !our la!thing to %e damned in this world and in the ne4t.' 'Are !ou %ound "or the cit! o" destruction-' she laughed# not moving# %ut showing such con"idence in her ower to hold him %ac$ that he sto ed in s ite o" himsel". 'I" so# !ou are ta$ing the direct road there and have onl! to hasten. 6ut !ou had %etter remain in !our "ather,s house) even i" !ou are something o" a risoner there# li$e m! ver! insigni"icant sel". The outcome will %e more satis"actor!# even i" !ou have to share !our "uture with me.' 'And what course will !ou ta$e#' he as$ed# ausing with his hand on the "ence# 'i" I decide to choose destruction without !ou# rather than erdition with !ou-' '+hat course- +h!# I shall tell /r. Tal%ot 3ust enough to show !ou to %e as desira%le a witness in the im ending in0uest as m!sel". The result I leave to

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!our 3udgment. 6ut !ou will not drive me to this e4tremit!. You will come %ac$ and&&' '+oman# I will never come %ac$. I shall have to dare !our worst in a wee$ and will %egin %! daring !ou now. I&&' 6ut he did not lea the "ence# though he made a move to do so# "or at that moment a art! o" men came hurr!ing %! on the lower road# one o" whom was heard to sa!1 'I will %et m! head that we will ut our hand on Agatha +e%%,s murderer to&night. The man who shoves twent!&dollar %ills around so heedlessl! should not wear a %eard so long it leads to detection.' It was the coroner# the consta%le# 9na which lived 8ohn and 8ames <a%el. # and A%el on their wa! to the "orest road on

Frederic$ and Ama%el con"ronted each other# and a"ter a moment,s silence returned as i" %! a common im ulse towards the house. '+hat have the! got in their heads-' 0ueried she. '+hatever it is# it ma! serve to occu ! them till the wee$ o" !our ro%ation is over.' He did not answer. A new and overwhelming com lication had %een added to the di""iculties o" his situation. C=. THE <A6EL* =I*ITE/ Let us "ollow the art! now winding u the hillside. In a dee l! wooded s ot on a side road stood the little house to which 8ohn and 8ames <a%el had removed when their %usiness on the doc$s had terminated. There was no other dwelling o" greater or lesser retension on the road# which ma! account "or the "act that none o" the ersons now a roaching it had %een in that neigh%ourhood "or !ears# though it was %! no means a long wal$ "rom the village in which the! all led such %us! lives. The heav! shadows cast %! the woods through which the road meandered were not without their e""ect u on the s irits o" the "our men assing through them# so that long %e"ore the! reached the o ening in which the <a%el cottage stood# silence had "allen u on the whole art!. /r. Tal%ot es eciall! loo$ed as i" he little relished this late visit to his old "riends# and not till the! caught a glim se o" the long slo ing roo" and heav! chimne! o" the <a%el cottage did he sha$e o"" the gloom incident to the nature o" his errand.

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'2entlemen#' said he# coming to a sudden halt# 'let us understand each other. +e are a%out to ma$e a call on two o" our oldest and most res ecta%le towns"ol$. I" in the course o" that call I choose to ma$e mention o" the twent!&dollar %ill le"t with Loton# well and good# %ut i" not# !ou are to ta$e m! reticence as roo" o" m! own %elie" that the! had nothing to do with it.' Two o" the art! %owed) 9na # onl!# made no sign. 'There is no light in the window#' o%served A%el. '+hat i" we "ind them gone to %ed-' '+e will wa$e them#' said the consta%le. 'I cannot go %ac$ without %eing m!sel" assured that no more mone! li$e that given to Loton remains in the house.' '=er! well#' remar$ed 9na # and going u to the door %e"ore him# he struc$ a resounding $noc$ su""icientl! startling in that lace o" silence. 6ut loud as the summons was it %rought no answer. Not onl! the moon&lighted door# %ut the little windows on each side o" it remained shut# and there was no evidence that the $noc$ had %een heard. '<a%el( 8ohn <a%el(' shouted the consta%le# ste ing around the side o" the house. '2et u # m! good "riends# and let an old cron! in. 8ames( 8ohn( Late as it is# we have %usiness with !ou. O en the door) don,t sto to dress.' 6ut this a eal received no more recognition than the "irst# and a"ter ra ing on the window against which he had "lung the words# he came %ac$ and loo$ed u and down the "ront o" the house. It had a solitar! as ect and was much less com"orta%le&loo$ing than he had e4 ected. Indeed# there were signs o" overt!# or at least o" neglect# a%out the lace that astonished him. Not onl! had the weeds %een allowed to grow over the doorste # %ut "rom the un ainted "ront itsel" %its o" %oards had rotted awa!# leaving great ga s a%out the window&ledges and at the %ase o" the sun$en and well&nigh to ling chimne!. The moon "looding the roo" showed u all these im er"ections with itiless insistence# and the torn edges o" the green a er shades that hal" concealed the rooms within were lainl! to %e seen# as well as the dismantled $noc$er which hung %! one nail to the old crac$ed door. The vision o" 9na with his ear laid against this door added to the "orlorn and sinister as ect o" the scene# and gave to the consta%le# who remem%ered the %rothers in their alm! da!s when the! were the li"e and ride o" the town# a %! no means agreea%le sensation# as he advanced toward the detective and as$ed him what the! should do now.

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'6rea$ down the door(' was the uncom romising re l!. 'Or# wait( The windows o" countr! houses are seldom "astened) let me see i" I cannot enter %! some one o" them.' '6etter not#' said the coroner# with considera%le "eeling. 'Let us e4haust all other means "irst.' And he too$ hold o" the $no% o" the door to sha$e it# when to his sur rise it turned and the door o ened. It had not %een loc$ed. Rather ta$en a%ac$ %! this# he hesitated. 6ut 9na showed less scru le. +ithout waiting "or an! man,s ermission# he glided in and ste ed cautiousl!# %ut without an! dela!# into a room the door o" which stood wide o en %e"ore him. The consta%le was a%out to "ollow when he saw 9na come stum%ling %ac$. '/evilish wor$#' he muttered# and drew the others in to see. Never will an! o" these men "orget the sight that there met their e!es. On the "loor near the entrance la! one %rother# in a strea$ o" moonlight# which showed ever! "eature o" his worn and li"eless "ace# and at a ta%le drawn u in the centre o" the room sat the other# rigid in death# with a %oo$ clutched in his hand. 6oth# had %een dead some time# and on the "aces and in the as ects o" %oth was visi%le a miser! that added its own gloom to the itia%le and gruesome scene# and made the shining o" the great white moon# which "illed ever! corner o" the %are room# seem a moc$er! well&nigh unendura%le to those who contem lated it. 8ohn# dead in his chair( 8ames# dead on the "loor( 9na # who o" all resent was least li$el! to "eel the awesome nature o" the traged!# was naturall! the "irst to s ea$. '6oth wear long %eards#' said he# '%ut the one l!ing on the "loor was dou%tless Loton,s customer. Ah(' he cried# ointing at the ta%le# as he care"ull! crossed the "loor. 'Here is the %read# and& &' Even he had his moments o" "eeling. The a earance o" that loa" had stunned him) one corner o" it had %een gnawed o"". 'A light( let us have a light(' cried .r. Fenton# s ea$ing "or the "irst time since his entrance. 'These moon%eams are horri%le) see how the! cling to the %odies as i" the! delighted in lighting u these wasted and shrun$en "orms.' 'Could it have %een hunger-' %egan A%el# trem%lingl! "ollowing 9na ,s ever! movement as he struc$ a match and lit a lantern which he had %rought in his oc$et.

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'2od hel us all i" it was(' said Fenton# in a secret remorse no one %ut /r. Tal%ot understood. '6ut who could have %elieved it o" men who were once so ros erousAre !ou sure that one o" them has gnawed this %read- Could it not have %een&&' 'These are the mar$s o" human teeth#' o%served 9na # who was e4amining the loa" care"ull!. 'I declare# it ma$es me ver! uncom"orta%le# notwithstanding it,s in the line o" regular e4 eriences.' And he laid the %read down hurriedl!. .eantime# .r. Fenton# who had %een %ending over another turned and wal$ed awa! to the window. ortion o" the ta%le#

'I am glad the! are dead#' he muttered. 'The! have at least shared the "ate o" their victims. Ta$e a loo$ under that old hand$erchie" l!ing %eside the news a er# 9na .' The detective did so. A three&edged dagger# with a curiousl! wrought handle# met his e!e. It had %lood dried on its oint# and was# as all could see# the wea on with which Agatha +e%% had %een $illed. C=I. LOCAL TALENT AT +OR9 '2entlemen# we have reached the conclusion o" this %usiness sooner than I e4 ected#' announced 9na . 'I" !ou will give me 3ust ten minutes I will endeavour to "ind that large remainder o" mone! we have ever! reason to thin$ is hidden awa! in this house.' '*to a minute#' said the coroner. 'Let me see what %oo$ 8ohn is holding so tightl!. +h!#' he e4claimed# drawing it out and giving it one glance# 'it is a 6i%le.' La!ing it reverentl! down he met the detective,s astonished glance and seriousl! remar$ed1 'There is some incongruit! %etween the resence o" this %oo$ and the deed we %elieve to have %een er"ormed down !onder.' 'None at all#' 0uoth the detective. 'It was not the man in the chair# %ut the one on the "loor# who made use o" that dagger. 6ut I wish !ou had le"t it to me to remove that %oo$# sir.' 'You- and wh!- +hat di""erence would it have made-' 'I would have noticed %etween what ages his "inger was inserted. Nothing li$e ma$ing !oursel" ac0uainted with ever! detail in a case li$e this.'

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/r. Tal%ot ga7ed wist"ull! at the %oo$. He would have li$ed to $now himsel" on what es ecial assage his "riend,s e!es had last rested. 'I will stand aside#' said he# 'and hear !our re ort when !ou are done.' The detective had alread! %egun his investigations. 'Here is a s ot o" %lood#' said he. '*ee( on the right trouser leg o" the one !ou call 8ames. This connects him indis uta%l! with the crime in which this dagger was used. No signs o" violence on his %od!. *he was the onl! one to receive a %low. His death is the result o" 2od,s rovidence.' 'Or man,s neglect#' muttered the consta%le. 'There is no mone! in an! o" their oc$ets# or on either wasted "igure#' the detective continued# a"ter a "ew minutes o" silent search. 'It must %e hidden in the room# or&& loo$ through that 6i%le# sirs.' The coroner# glad o" an o ortunit! to do something# too$ u the %oo$# and ran hurriedl! through its leaves# then turned it and shoo$ it out over the ta%le. Nothing "ell out) the %ills must %e loo$ed "or elsewhere. 'The "urniture is scant!#' A%el o%served# with an in0uiring loo$ a%out him. '=er!# ver! scant!#' assented the consta%le# still with that %iting remorse at his heart. 'There is nothing in this cu %oard#' ursued the detective# swinging o en a door in the wall# '%ut a set o" old china more or less nic$ed.' A%el started. An old recollection had come u . *ome wee$s %e"ore# he had %een resent when 8ames had made an e""ort to sell this set. The! were all in +arner,s store# and 8ames <a%el :he could see his eas! attitude !et# and hear the o""&hand tones with which he tried to carr! the a""air o""; had said# 0uite as i" he had never thought o" it %e"ore1 '6! the %!# I have a set o" china at the house which came over in the .a!"lower. 8ohn li$es it# %ut it has grown to %e an e!esore to me# and i" !ou hear o" an!%od! who has a "anc! "or such things# send him u to the cottage. I will let it go "or a song.' No%od! answered# and 8ames disa eared. It was the last time# A%el remem%ered# that he had %een seen a%out town. 'I can,t stand it#' cried the lad. 'I can,t stand it. I" the! died o" hunger I must $now it. I am going to ta$e a loo$ at their larder.' And %e"ore an!one could sto him he dashed to the rear o" the house.

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The consta%le would have li$ed to "ollow him# %ut he loo$ed a%out the walls o" the room instead. 8ohn and 8ames had %een "ond o" ictures and had once indulged their "anc! to the verge o" e4travagance# %ut there were no ictures on the walls now# nor was there so much as a candlestic$ on the em t! and dust&covered mantel. Onl! on a %rac$et in one corner there was a worthless trin$et made out o" cloves and %eads which had dou%tless %een given them %! some countr! damsel in their !oung %achelor da!s. 6ut nothing o" an! value an!where# and .r. Fenton "elt that he now $new wh! the! had made so man! visits to 6oston at one time# and wh! the! alwa!s returned with a thinner valise than the! too$ awa!. He was still dwelling on the thought o" the de ths o" miser! to which highl! res ecta%le "ol$s can sin$ without the $nowledge o" the nearest neigh%ours# when A%el came %ac$ loo$ing greatl! trou%led. 'It is the saddest thing I ever heard o"#' said he. 'These men must have %een driven wild %! miser!. This room is sum tuous in com arison to the ones at the %ac$) and as "or the antr!# there is not even a scra there a mouse could eat. I struc$ a match and glanced into the "lour %arrel. It loo$ed as i" it had %een lic$ed. I declare# it ma$es a "ellow "eel sic$.' The consta%le# with a shudder# withdrew towards the door. 'The atmos here here is sti"ling#' said he. 'I must have a %reath o" out&door air.' 6ut he was not destined to an! such immediate relie". As he moved down the hall the "orm o" a man dar$ened the doorwa! and he heard an an4ious voice e4claim1 'Ah# .r. Fenton# is that !ou- I have %een loo$ing "or !ou ever!where.' It was *weetwater# the !oung man who had reviousl! shown so much an4iet! to %e o" service to the coroner. .r. Fenton loo$ed dis leased. 'And how came !ou to "ind me here-' he as$ed. 'Oh# some men saw !ou ta$e this road# and I guessed the rest.' 'Oh# ah# ver! good. And what do !ou want# *weetwater-' The !oung man# who was glowing with ride and all alive with an enthusiasm which he had $e t su ressed "or hours# sli ed u to the consta%le and whis ered in his ear1 'I have made a discover!# sir. I $now !ou will e4cuse the resum tion# %ut I couldn,t %ring m!sel" to $ee 0uiet and "ollow in that other

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"ellow,s wa$e. I had to ma$e investigations on m! own account# and&&and'&& stammering in his eagerness 'the! have %een success"ul# sir. I have "ound out who was the murderer o" Agatha +e%%.' The consta%le# com assionating the disa ointment in store "or him# shoo$ his head# with a solemn loo$ toward the room "rom which he had 3ust emerged. 'You are late# *weetwater#' said he. '+e have "ound him out ourselves# and he lies there# dead.' It was dar$ where the! stood and *weetwater,s %ac$ was to the moonlight# so that the %lan$ loo$ which must have crossed his "ace at this announcement was lost u on the consta%le. 6ut his consternation was evident "rom the wa! he thrust out either hand to stead! himsel" against the walls o" the narrow assagewa!# and .r. Fenton was not at all sur rised to hear him stammer out1 '/ead( He( +hom do !ou mean %! he# .r. Fenton-' 'The man in whose house we now are#' returned the other. 'Is there an!one else who can %e sus ected o" this crime-' *weetwater gave a gul that seemed to restore him to himsel". 'There are two men living here# %oth ver! good men# I have heard. +hich o" them do !ou mean# and wh! do !ou thin$ that either 8ohn or 8ames <a%el $illed Agatha +e%%-' For re l! .r. Fenton drew him toward the room in which such a great heart&traged! had ta$en lace. 'Loo$#' said he# 'and see what can ha en in a Christian land# in the midst o" Christian eo le living not "i"t! rods awa!. These men are dead# *weetwater# dead "rom hunger. The loa" o" %read !ou see there came too late. It was %ought with a twent!&dollar %ill# ta$en "rom Agatha +e%%,s cu %oard drawer.' *weetwater# to whom the whole scene seemed li$e some horri%le nightmare# stared at the "igure o" 8ames l!ing on the "loor# and then at the "igure o" 8ohn seated at the ta%le# as i" his mind had "ailed to ta$e in the consta%le,s words. '/ead(' he murmured. '/ead( 8ohn and 8ames <a%el. +hat will ha en ne4t- Is the town under a curse-' And he "ell on his $nees %e"ore the rostrate "orm o" 8ames# onl! to start u again as he saw the e!es o" 9na resting on him. 'Ah#' he muttered# 'the detective(' And a"ter giving the man "rom 6oston a close loo$ he turned toward .r. Fenton.

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'You said something a%out this good old man having $illed Agatha +e%%. +hat was it- I was too da7ed to ta$e it in.' .r. Fenton# not understanding the !oung man,s eagerness# %ut willing enough to enlighten him as to the situation# told him what reasons there were "or ascri%ing the crime in the +e%% cottage to the mad need o" these starving men. *weetwater listened with o en e!es and con"used %earing# onl! controlling himsel" when his e!es %! chance "ell u on the 0uiet "igure o" the detective# now moving so"tl! to and "ro through the room. '6ut wh! murder when he could have had his loa" "or the as$ing-' remonstrated *weetwater. 'Agatha +e%% would have gone without a meal an! time to "eed a wandering tram ) how much more to su l! the necessities o" two o" her oldest and dearest "riends(' 'Yes#' remar$ed Fenton# '%ut !ou "orget or erha s never $new that the master assion o" these men was ride. 8ames <a%el as$ "or %read( I can much sooner imagine him stealing it) !es# or stri$ing a %low "or it# so that the %low shut "orever the e!es that saw him do it.' 'You don,t %elieve !our own words# .r. Fenton. How can !ou-' *weetwater,s hand was on the %reast o" the accused man as he s o$e# and his manner was almost solemn. 'You must not ta$e it "or granted#' he went on# his green e!es twin$ling with a curious light# 'that all wisdom comes "rom 6oston. +e in *utherlandtown have some s ar$s o" it# i" the! have not !et %een recognised. You are satis"ied'&&here he addressed himsel" to 9na &&'that the %low which $illed Agatha +e%% was struc$ %! this res ecta%le old man-' 9na smiled as i" a child had as$ed him this 0uestion) %ut he answered him good& humouredl! enough. 'You see the dagger l!ing here with which the deed was done# and !ou see the %read that was %ought "rom Loton with a twent!&dollar %ill o" Agatha +e%%,s mone!. In these !ou can read m! answer.' '2ood evidence#' ac$nowledged *weetwater&&'ver! good evidence# es eciall! when we remem%er that .r. Crane met an old man rushing "rom her gatewa! with something glittering in his hand. I never was so %eat in m! li"e# and !et&&and !et&&i" I could have a "ew minutes o" 0uiet thought all %! m!sel" I am certain I could show !ou that there is more to this matter than !ou thin$. Indeed# I $now that there is# %ut I do not li$e to give m! reasons till I have con0uered the di""iculties resented %! these men having had the twent!&dollar %ill.' '+hat "ellow is this-' suddenl! %ro$e in 9na .

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'A "iddler# a no%od!#' 0uietl! whis ered .r. Fenton in his ear. *weetwater heard him and changed in a twin$ling "rom the uncertain# hal"&%a""led# wholl! hum%le erson the! had 3ust seen# to a man with a ur ose strong enough to ma$e him hold u his head with the %est. 'I am a musician#' he admitted# 'and I la! on the violin "or mone! whenever the occasion o""ers# something which !ou will !et congratulate !ourselves u on i" !ou wish to reach the root o" this m!sterious and dastardl! crime. 6ut that I am a no%od! I den!# and I even dare to ho e that !ou will agree with me in this estimate o" m!sel" %e"ore this ver! night is over. Onl! give me an o ortunit! "or considering this su%3ect# and the ermission to wal$ "or a "ew minutes a%out this house.' 'That is m! rerogative#' rotested the detective "irml!# %ut without an! dis la! o" "eeling. 'I am the man em lo!ed to ic$ u whatever clews the lace ma! resent.' 'Have !ou ic$ed u all that are to %e "ound in this room-' as$ed *weetwater calml!. 9na shrugged his shoulders. He was ver! well satis"ied with himsel". 'Then give me a chance#' ra!ed *weetwater. '.r. Fenton#' he urged more earnestl!# 'I am not the "ool !ou ta$e me "or. I "eel# I $now# I have a genius "or this $ind o" thing# and though I am not re ossessing to loo$ at# and though I do la! the "iddle# I swear there are de ths to this a""air which none o" !ou have as !et sounded. *irs# where are the nine hundred and eight! dollars in %ills which go to ma$e u the clean thousand that was ta$en "rom the small drawer at the %ac$ o" Agatha +e%%,s cu %oard-' 'The! are in some secret hiding& lace# no dou%t# which we will resentl! come u on as we go through the house#' answered 9na . '>m h( Then I advise !ou to ut !our hand on them as soon as ossi%le#' retorted *weetwater. 'I will con"ine m!sel" to going over the ground !ou have alread! investigated.' And with a sudden ignoring o" the others, resence# which could onl! have s rung "rom an intense egotism or "rom an overwhelming %elie" in his own theor!# he %egan an investigation o" the room that threw the other,s more common lace e""orts entirel! in the shade. 9na # with a slight com ression o" his li s# which was the sole e4 ression o" anger he ever allowed himsel"# too$ u his hat and made his %ow to .r. Fenton.

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'I see#' said he# 'that the s!m ath! o" those resent is with local talent. Let local talent wor$# then# sir# and when !ou "eel the need o" a man o" training and e4 erience# send to the tavern on the doc$s# where I will %e "ound till I am noti"ied that m! services are no longer re0uired.' 'No# no(' rotested .r. Fenton. 'This %o!,s enthusiasm will soon eva orate. Let him "uss awa! i" he will. His ett! %usiness need not interru t us.' '6ut he understands himsel"#' whis ered 9na own "orce "or !ears.' . 'I should thin$ he had %een on our

'All the more reason to see what he,s u to. +ait# i" onl! to satis"! !our curiosit!. I shan,t let man! minutes go %! %e"ore I ull him u .' 9na # who was reall! o" a cold and unim ressiona%le tem erament# re"rained "rom "urther argument# and con"ined himsel" to watching the !oung man# whose movements seemed to "ascinate him. 'Astonishing(' .r. Fenton heard him mutter to himsel". 'He,s more li$e an eel than a man.' And indeed the wa! *weetwater wound himsel" out and in through that room# seeing ever!thing that came under his e!e# was a sight well worth an! ro"essional,s attention. 5ausing %e"ore the dead man on the "loor# he held the lantern close to the white# worn "ace. 'Ha(' said he# ic$ing something "rom the long %eard# 'here,s a crum% o" that same %read. /id !ou see that# .r. 9na -' The 0uestion was so sudden and so shar that the detective came near re l!ing to it) %ut he %ethought himsel"# and said nothing. 'That settles which o" the two gnawed the loa"#' continued *weetwater. The ne4t minute he was hovering over the still more athetic "igure o" 8ohn# sitting in the chair. '*ad( *ad(' he murmured. *uddenl! he laid his "inger on a small rent in the old man,s "aded vest. 'You saw this# o" course#' said he# with a 0uic$ glance over his shoulder at the silent detective. No answer# as %e"ore. 'It,s a new slit#' declared the o""icious !outh# loo$ing closer# 'and&&!es&&there,s %lood on its edges. Here# ta$e the lantern# .r. Fenton# I must see how the s$in loo$s underneath. Oh# gentlemen# no shirt( The oorest doc$hand has a

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shirt( 6rocaded vest and no shirt) %ut he,s ast our it! now. Ah# onl! a %ruise over the heart. *irs# what did !ou ma$e out o" this-' As none o" them had even seen it# 9na was not the onl! one to remain silent. '*hall I tell !ou what I ma$e out o" it-' said the lad# rising hurriedl! "rom the "loor# which he had as hurriedl! e4amined. 'This old man has tried to ta$e his li"e with the dagger alread! wet with the %lood o" Agatha +e%%. 6ut his arm was too "ee%le. The oint onl! ierced the vest# wi ing o"" a little %lood in its assage# then the wea on "ell "rom his hand and struc$ the "loor# as !ou will see %! the "resh dent in the old %oard I am standing on. Have !ou an!thing to sa! against these sim le deductions-' Again the detective o ened his li s and might have s o$en# %ut *weetwater gave him no chance. '+here is the letter he was writing-' he demanded. 'Have an! o" !ou seen an! a er l!ing a%out here-' 'He was not writing#' o%3ected 9na see there.' ) 'he was reading) reading in that old 6i%le !ou

*weetwater caught u the %oo$# loo$ed it over# and laid it down# with that same curious twin$le o" his e!e the! had noted in him %e"ore. 'He was writing#' he insisted. '*ee# here is his encil.' And he showed them the %attered end o" a small lead& encil l!ing on the edge o" his chair. '+riting at some time#' admitted 9na . '+riting 3ust %e"ore the deed#' insisted *weetwater. 'Loo$ at the "ingers o" his right hand. The! have not moved since the encil "ell out o" them.' 'The letter# or whatever it was# shall %e loo$ed "or#' declared the consta%le. *weetwater %owed# his e!es roving restlessl! into ever! noo$ and corner o" the room. '8ames was the stronger o" the two#' he remar$ed) '!et there is no evidence that he made an! attem t at suicide.' 'How do !ou $now that it was suicide 8ohn attem ted-' as$ed someone. '+h! might not the dagger have "allen "rom 8ames,s hand in an e""ort to $ill his %rother-'

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'6ecause the dent in the "loor would have %een to the right o" the chair instead o" to the le"t#' he returned. '6esides# 8ames,s hand would not have "ailed so utterl!# since he had strength to ic$ u the wea on a"terward and la! it where !ou "ound it.' 'True# we "ound it l!ing on the ta%le#' o%served A%el# scratching his head in "orced admiration o" his old schoolmate. 'All eas!# ver! eas!#' *weetwater remar$ed# seeing the wonder in ever! e!e. '.atters li$e those are "or a child,s reading# %ut what is di""icult# and what I "ind hard to come %!# is how the twent!& dollar %ill got into the old man,s hand. He "ound it here# %ut how&&' 'Found it here- How do !ou $now that-' '2entlemen# that is a oint I will ma$e clear to !ou later# when I have laid m! hand on a certain clew I am an4iousl! see$ing. You $now this is new wor$ "or me and I have to advance waril!. /id an! o" !ou gentlemen# when !ou came into this room# detect the "aintest odour o" an! $ind o" er"ume-' '5er"ume-' echoed A%el# with a glance a%out the must! a artment. 'Rats# rather.' *weetwater shoo$ his head with a discouraged air# %ut suddenl! %rightened# and ste ing 0uic$l! across the "loor# aused at one o" the windows. It was that one in which the shade had %een drawn. 5eering at this shade he gave a grunt. 'You must e4cuse me "or a minute#' said he) 'I have not "ound what I wanted in this room and now must loo$ outside "or it. +ill someone %ring the lantern-' 'I will#' volunteered 9na ludicrous to him. # with grim good humour. Indeed# the situation was almost

'6ring it round the house# then# to the ground under this window#' ordered *weetwater# without giving an! sign that he noticed or even recognised the other,s air o" condescension. 'And# gentlemen# lease don,t "ollow. It,s "ootste s I am a"ter# and the "ewer we ma$e ourselves# the easier will it %e "or me to esta%lish the clew I am a"ter.' .r. Fenton stared. +hat had got into the "ellowThe lantern gone# the room resumed its "ormer a earance.

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A%el# who had %een much struc$ %! *weetwater,s m!sterious manoeuvres# drew near /r. Tal%ot and whis ered in his ear1 '+e might have done without that "ellow "rom 6oston.' To which the coroner re lied1 '5erha s so# and erha s not. *weetwater has not !et roved his case) let us wait till he e4 lains himsel".' Then# turning to the consta%le# he showed him an old& "ashioned miniature# which he had "ound l!ing on 8ames,s %reast# when he made his "irst e4amination. It was set with earls and %ac$ed with gold and was worth man! meals# "or the lac$ o" which its devoted owner had erished. 'Agatha +e%%,s ortrait#' e4 lained Tal%ot# 'or rather Agatha 2ilchrist,s) "or I resume this was ainted when she and 8ames were lovers.' '*he was certainl! a %eaut!#' commented Fenton# as he %ent over the miniature in the moonlight. 'I do not wonder she 0ueened it over the whole countr!.' 'He must have worn it where I "ound it "or the last "ort! !ears#' mused the doctor. 'And !et men sa! that love is a "leeting assion. +ell# a"ter coming u on this roo" o" devotion# I "ind it im ossi%le to %elieve 8ames <a%el accounta%le "or the death o" one so "ondl! remem%ered. *weetwater,s instinct was truer than 9na ,s.' 'Or ours#' muttered Fenton. '2entlemen#' inter osed A%el# ointing to a %right s ot that 3ust then made its a earance in the dar$ outline o" the shade %e"ore alluded to# 'do !ou see that holeIt was the sight o" that ric$ in the shade which sent *weetwater outside loo$ing "or "oot rints. *ee( Now his e!e is to it' :as the %right s ot %ecame suddenl! ecli sed;. '+e are under e4amination# sirs# and the ne4t thing we will hear is that he,s not the onl! erson who,s %een eering into this room through that hole.' He was so "ar right that the "irst words o" *weetwater on his re& entrance were1 'It,s all O. 9.# sirs. I have "ound m! missing clew. 8ames <a%el was not the onl! erson who came u here "rom the +e%% cottage last night.' And turning to 9na # who was losing some o" his su ercilious manner# he as$ed# with signi"icant em hasis1 'I"# o" the "ull amount stolen "rom Agatha +e%%# !ou "ound twent! dollars in the ossession o" one man and nine hundred and eight! dollars in the ossession o" another# u on which o" the two would !ou "i4 as the ro%a%le murderer o" the good woman-' '> on him who held the lion,s share# o" course.'

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'=er! good) then it is not in this cottage !ou will "ind the erson most wanted. You must loo$&&6ut there( "irst let me give !ou a glim se o" the mone!. Is there an!one here read! to accom an! me in search o" it- I shall have to ta$e him a 0uarter o" a mile "arther u &hill.' 'You have seen the mone!- You $now where it is-' as$ed /r. Tal%ot and .r. Fenton in one %reath. '2entlemen# I can ut m! hand on it in ten minutes.' At this une4 ected and somewhat startling statement 9na /r. Tal%ot loo$ed at the consta%le# %ut onl! the last s o$e. loo$ed at /r. Tal%ot and

'That is sa!ing a good deal. 6ut no matter. I am willing to credit the assertion. Lead on# *weetwater) I,ll go with !ou.' *weetwater seemed to grow an inch taller in his satis"ied vanit!. 'And /r. Tal%ot-' he suggested. 6ut the coroner,s dut! held him to the house and he decided not to accom an! them. 9na and A%el# however# !ielded to the curiosit! which had %een aroused %! these e4traordinar! romises# and resentl! the "our men mentioned started on their small e4 edition u the hill. *weetwater headed the rocession. He had admonished silence# and his wish in this regard was so well carried out that the! loo$ed more li$e a grou o" s ectres moving u the moon&lighted road# than a art! o" eager and im atient men. Not till the! turned into the main thorough"are did an!one s ea$. Then A%el could no longer restrain himsel" and he cried out1 '+e are going to .r. *utherland,s.' 6ut *weetwater 0uic$l! undeceived him. 'No#' said he# 'onl! into the woods o 6ut at this .r. Fenton drew him %ac$. 'Are !ou sure o" !oursel"-' he said. 'Have !ou reall! seen this mone! and is it concealed in this "orest-' 'I have seen the mone!#' *weetwater solemnl! declared# 'and it is hidden in these woods.' .r. Fenton dro ed his arm# and the! moved on till their wa! was %loc$ed %! the huge trun$ o" a "allen tree. osite his house.'

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'It is here we are to loo$#' cried *weetwater# ausing and motioning 9na to turn his lantern on the s ot where the shadows la! thic$est. 'Now# what do !ou see-' he as$ed. 'The u turned roots o" a great tree#' said .r. Fenton. 'And under them-' 'A hole# or# rather# the entrance to one.' '=er! good) the mone! is in that hole. 5ull it out# .r. Fenton.' The assurance with which *weetwater s o$e was such that .r. Fenton at once stoo ed and lunged his hand into the hole. 6ut when# a"ter a hurried search# he drew it out again# there was nothing in it) the lace was em t!. *weetwater stared at .r. Fenton ama7ed. '/on,t !ou "ind an!thing-' he as$ed. 'Isn,t there a roll o" %ills in that hole-' 'No#' was the gloom! answer# a"ter a renewed attem t and a second disa ointment. 'There is nothing to %e "ound here. You are la%ouring under some misa rehension# *weetwater.' '6ut I can,t %e. I saw the mone!) saw it in the hand o" the erson who hid it there. Let me loo$ "or it# consta%le. I will not give u the search till I have turned the lace to s!&turv!.' 9neeling down in .r. Fenton,s lace# he thrust his hand into the hole. On either side o" him eered the "aces o" .r. Fenton and 9na . :A%el had sli ed awa! at a whis er "rom *weetwater.; The! were lit with a similar e4 ression o" an4ious interest and growing dou%t. His own countenance was a stud! o" con"licting and %! no means cheer"ul emotions. *uddenl! his as ect changed. +ith a 0uic$ twist o" his lithe# i" aw$ward# %od!# he threw himsel" lengthwise on the ground# and %egan tearing at the earth inside the hole# li$e a %urrowing animal. 'I cannot %e mista$en. Nothing will ma$e me %elieve it is not here. It has sim l! %een %uried dee er than I thought. Ah( +hat did I tell !ou- *ee here( And see here(' 6ringing his hands into the "ull %la7e o" the light# he showed two rolls o" new# cris %ills. 'The! were l!ing under hal" a "oot o" earth#' said he# '%ut i" the! had %een %uried as dee as 2rannie Fuller,s well# I,d have unearthed them.'

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.eantime .r. Fenton was ra idl! counting one roll and 9na the other. The result was an aggregate sum o" nine hundred and eight! dollars# 3ust the amount *weetwater had romised to show them. 'A good stro$e o" %usiness#' cried .r. Fenton. 'And now# *weetwater# whose is the hand that %uried this treasure- Nothing is to %e gained %! reserving silence on this oint an! longer.' Instantl! the !oung man %ecame ver! grave. +ith a 0uic$ glance around which seemed to em%race the secret recesses o" the "orest rather than the eager "aces %ending towards him# he lowered his voice and 0uietl! said1 'The hand that %uried this mone! under the roots o" this old tree is the same which !ou saw ointing downward at the s ot o" %lood in Agatha +e%%,s "ront !ard.' 'You do not mean Anna%el 5age(' cried .r. Fenton# with natural sur rise. 'Yes# I do) and I am glad it is !ou who have named her.' C=II. THE *LI55ER*# THE FLO+ER# AN/ +HAT *+EET+ATER .A/E OF THE. A hal"&hour later these men were all closeted with /r. Tal%ot in the <a%el $itchen. A%el had re3oined them# and *weetwater was telling his stor! with great earnestness and no little show o" ride. '2entlemen# when I charge a !oung woman o" res ecta%le a earance and connections with such a revolting crime as murder# I do so with good reason# as I ho e resentl! to ma$e lain to !ou all. '2entlemen# on the night and at the hour Agatha +e%% was $illed# I was la!ing with "our other musicians in .r. *utherland,s hallwa!. From the lace where I sat I could see what went on in the arlour and also have a clear view o" the assagewa! leading down to the garden door. As the dancing was going on in the arlour I naturall! loo$ed that wa! most# and this is how I came to note the eagerness with which# during the "irst art o" the evening# Frederic$ *utherland and Ama%el 5age came together in the 0uadrilles and countr! dances. *ometimes she s o$e as she assed him# and sometimes he answered# %ut not alwa!s# although he never "ailed to show he was leased with her or would have %een i" something&& erha s it was his lac$ o" con"idence in her# sirs&&had not stood in the wa! o" a er"ect understanding. *he seemed to notice that he did not alwa!s res ond# and a"ter a while showed less inclination to s ea$ hersel"# though she did not "ail to watch him# and that intentl!. 6ut she did not watch him an! more closel! than I did her# though I little thought at the time what would come o" m! es ionage. *he

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wore a white dress and white shoes# and was as co0uettish and seductive as the evil one ma$es them. *uddenl! I missed her. *he was in the middle o" the dance one minute and entirel! out o" it the ne4t. Naturall! I su osed her to have sli ed aside with Frederic$ *utherland# %ut he was still in sight# loo$ing so ale and so a%stracted# however# I was sure the !oung miss was u to some sort o" mischie". 6ut what mischie"- +atching and waiting# %ut no longer con"ining m! attention to the arlour# I resentl! es ied her stealing along the assagewa! I have mentioned# carr!ing a long cloa$ which she rolled u and hid %ehind the o en door. Then she came %ac$ humming a ga! little song which didn,t deceive me "or a moment. ,2ood(, thought I# ,she and that cloa$ will soon 3oin com an!., And the! did. As we were la!ing the Hare%ell ma7ur$a I again caught sight o" her stealth! white "igure in that distant doorwa!. *ei7ing the cloa$# she wra ed it round her# and with 3ust one "urtive loo$ %ac$wards# seen# I warrant# %! no one %ut m!sel"# she vanished in the outside dar$. ,Now to note who "ollows her(, 6ut no%od! "ollowed her. This struc$ me as strange# and having a natural love "or detective wor$# in s ite o" m! devotion to the arts# I consulted the cloc$ at the "oot o" the stairs# and noting that it was hal"& ast eleven# scri%%led the hour on the margin o" m! music# with the intention o" seeing how long m! lad! would linger outside alone. 2entlemen# it was two hours %e"ore I saw her "ace again. How she got %ac$ into the house I do not $now. It was not %! the garden door# "or m! e!e seldom le"t it) !et at or near hal"& ast one I heard her voice on the stair a%ove me and saw her descend and melt into the crowd as i" she had not %een a%sent "rom it "or more than "ive minutes. A hal"&hour later I saw her with Frederic$ again. The! were dancing# %ut not with the same s irit as %e"ore# and even while I watched them the! se arated. Now where was .iss 5age during those two long hours- I thin$ I $now# and it is time I un%urdened m!sel" to the olice. '6ut "irst I must in"orm !ou o" a small discover! I made while the dance was still in rogress. .iss 5age had descended the stairs# as I have said# "rom what I now $now to have %een her own room. Her dress was# in all res ects# the same as %e"ore# with one e4ce tion&&her white sli ers had %een e4changed "or %lue ones. This seemed to show that the! had %een rendered unservicea%le# or at least unsightl!# %! the wal$ she had ta$en. This in itsel" was not remar$a%le nor would her eculiar esca ade have made more than a tem orar! im ression u on m! curiosit! i" she had not a"terward shown in m! resence such an unaccounta%le and e4traordinar! interest in the murder which had ta$en lace in the town %elow during the ver! hours o" her a%sence "rom .r. *utherland,s %all. This# in consideration o" her se4# and her %eing a stranger to the erson attac$ed# was remar$a%le# and# though erha s I had no %usiness to do what I did# I no sooner saw the house em tied o" master and servants than I stole so"tl! %ac$# and clim%ed the stairs to her room. Had no good "ollowed this intrusion# which# I am 0uite read! to ac$nowledge# was a tri"le resum tuous# I would have held m! eace in regard to it) %ut as I did ma$e a discover! there# which has# as I %elieve# an im ortant %earing on this

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a""air# I have "orced m!sel" to mention it. The lights in the house having %een le"t %urning# I had no di""icult! in "inding her a artment. I $new it %! the "olderols scattered a%out. 6ut I did not sto to loo$ at them. I was on a search "or her sli ers# and resentl! came u on them# thrust %ehind an old icture in the dimmest corner o" the room. Ta$ing them down# I e4amined them closel!. The! were not onl! soiled# gentlemen# %ut dread"ull! cut and ru%%ed. In short# the! were ruined# and# thin$ing that the !oung lad! hersel" would %e glad to %e rid o" them# I 0uietl! ut them into m! oc$et# and carried them to m! own home. A%el has 3ust %een "or them# so !ou can see them "or !ourselves# and i" !our 3udgment coincides with mine# !ou will discover something more on them than mud.' /r. Tal%ot# though he stared a little at the !oung man,s con"essed the"t# too$ the sli ers A%el was holding out and care"ull! turned them over. The! were# as *weetwater had said# grievousl! torn and soiled# and showed# %eside several dee earth&stains# a mar$ or two o" a %right red colour# 0uite unmista$a%le in its character. '6lood#' declared the coroner. 'There is no dou%t a%out it. .iss 5age was where %lood was s illed last night.' 'I have another roo" against her#' *weetwater went on# in "ull en3o!ment o" his rominence amongst these men# who# u to now# had %arel! recognised his e4istence. '+hen# "ull o" the sus icion that .iss 5age had had a hand in the the"t which had ta$en lace at .rs. +e%%,s house# i" not in the murder that accom anied it# I hastened down to the scene o" the traged!# I met this !oung woman issuing "rom the "ront gate. *he had 3ust %een ma$ing hersel" cons icuous %! ointing out a trail o" %lood on the grass lot. /r. Tal%ot# who was there# will remem%er how she loo$ed on that occasion) %ut I dou%t i" he noticed how A%el here loo$ed# or so much as remar$ed the "aded "lower the sill! %o! had stuc$ in his %uttonhole.' '&&me i" I did(' e3aculated the coroner. 'Yet that "lower has a ver! im ortant %earing on this case. He had "ound it# as he will tell !ou# on the "loor near 6ats!,s s$irts# and as soon as I saw it in his coat# I %ade him ta$e it out and $ee it# "or# gentlemen# it was a ver! uncommon "lower# the li$e o" which can onl! %e "ound in this town in .r. *utherland,s conservator!. I remem%er seeing such a one in .iss 5age,s hair# earl! in the evening. Have !ou that "lower a%out !ou# A%el-' A%el had# and %eing "illed with im ortance too# showed it to the doctor and to .r. Fenton. It was withered and "aded in hue# %ut it was unmista$a%l! an orchid o" the rarest descri tion.

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'It was l!ing near 6ats!#' e4 lained A%el. 'I drew .r. Fenton,s attention to it at the time# %ut he scarcel! noticed it.' 'I will ma$e u "or m! indi""erence now#' said that gentleman. 'I should have %een shown that "lower#' ut in 9na . '*o !ou should#' ac$nowledged *weetwater# '%ut when the detective instinct is aroused it is hard "or a man to %e 3ust to his rivals) %esides# I was otherwise occu ied. I had .iss 5age to watch. Ha il! "or me# !ou had decided that she should not %e allowed to leave town till a"ter the in0uest# and so m! tas$ %ecame eas!. This whole da! I have s ent in sight o" .r. *utherland,s house# and at night"all I was rewarded %! detecting her end a rolonged wal$ in the garden %! a hurried dash into the woods o osite. I "ollowed her and noted care"ull! all that she did. As she had 3ust seen Frederic$ *utherland and .iss Hallida! disa ear u the road together# she ro%a%l! "elt "ree to do as she li$ed# "or she wal$ed ver! directl! to the old tree we have 3ust come "rom# and $neeling down %eside it ulled "rom the hole underneath something which rattled in her hand with that eculiar sound we associate with "resh %an$&notes. I had a roached her as near as I dared# and was eering around a tree trun$# when she stoo ed down again and lunged %oth hands into the hole. *he remained in this osition so long that I did not $now what to ma$e o" it. 6ut she rose at last and turned toward home# laughing to hersel" in a wic$ed %ut leased wa! that did not tend to ma$e me thin$ an! more o" her. The moon was shining ver! %rightl! %! this time and I could readil! erceive ever! detail o" her erson. *he held her hands out %e"ore her and shoo$ them more than once as she trod %! me# so I was sure there was nothing in them# and this is wh! I was so con"ident we should "ind the mone! still in the hole. '+hen I saw her enter the house# I set out to "ind !ou# %ut the court&house room was em t!# and it was a long time %e"ore I learned where to loo$ "or !ou. 6ut at last a "ellow at 6righton,s corner said he saw "our men go %! on their wa! to <a%el,s cottage# and on the chance o" "inding !ou amongst them# I turned down here. The shoc$ !ou gave me in announcing that !ou had discovered the murderer o" Agatha +e%% $noc$ed me over "or a moment# %ut now I ho e !ou realise# as I do# that this wretched man could never have had an active hand in her death# notwithstanding the "act that one o" the stolen %ills has %een "ound in his ossession. For# and here is m! great oint# the roo" is not wanting that .iss 5age visited this house as well as .rs. +e%%,s during her "amous esca ade) or at least stood under the window %eneath which I have 3ust %een searching. A "oot rint can %e seen there# sirs# a ver! lain "oot rint# and i" /r. Tal%ot will ta$e the trou%le to com are it with the sli er he holds in his hand# he will "ind it to have %een made %! the "oot that wore that sli er.'

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The coroner# with a 0uic$ glance "rom the sli er in his hand u to *weetwater,s eager "ace# showed a decided dis osition to ma$e the e4 eriment thus suggested. 6ut .r. Fenton# whose mind was "ull o" the <a%el traged!# interru ted them with the 0uestion1 '6ut how do !ou e4 lain %! this h! othesis the "act o" 8ames <a%el tr!ing to ass one o" the twent!&dollar %ills stolen "rom .rs. +e%%,s cu %oard- /o !ou consider .iss 5age generous enough to give him that mone!-' 'You as$ .E that# .r. Fenton. /o !ou wish to $now what I thin$ o" the connection %etween these two great tragedies-' 'Yes) !ou have earned a voice in this matter) s ea$# *weetwater.' '+ell# then# I thin$ .iss 5age has made an e""ort to throw the %lame o" her own misdoing on one or %oth o" these un"ortunate old men. *he is su""icientl! cold& %looded and calculating to do so) and circumstances certainl! "avoured her. *hall I show how-' .r. Fenton consulted 9na # who nodded his head. The 6oston detective was not without curiosit! as to how *weetwater would rove the case. 'Old 8ames <a%el had seen his %rother sin$ing ra idl! "rom inanition) this their condition am l! shows. He was wea$ himsel"# %ut 8ohn was wea$er# and in a moment o" des eration he rushed out to as$ a crum% o" %read "rom Agatha +e%%# or ossi%l!&&"or I have heard some whis ers o" an old custom o" theirs to 3oin 5hilemon at his !earl! merr!&ma$ing and so o%tain in a natural wa! the %ite "or himsel" and %rother he erha s had not the courage to as$ "or outright. 6ut death had %een in the +e%% cottage %e"ore him# which aw"ul circumstance# acting on his alread! wea$ened nerves# drove him hal" insane "rom the house and sent him wandering %lindl! a%out the streets "or a good hal"&hour %e"ore he rea eared in his own house. How do I $now this- From a ver! sim le "act. A%el here has %een to in0uire# among other things# i" .r. Crane remem%ers the tune we were la!ing at the great house when he came down the main street "rom visiting old widow +al$er. Fortunatel! he does# "or the tri # tri # tri in it struc$ his "anc!# and he has "ound himsel" humming it over more than once since. +ell# that walt7 was la!ed %! us at a 0uarter a"ter midnight# which "i4es the time o" the encounter at .rs. +e%%,s gatewa! rett! accuratel!. 6ut# as !ou will soon see# it was ten minutes to one %e"ore 8ames <a%el $noc$ed at Loton,s door. How do I $now this- 6! the same method o" reasoning %! which I determined the time o" .r. Crane,s encounter. .rs. Loton was greatl! leased with the music la!ed that night# and had all her windows o en in order to hear it# and she sa!s we were la!ing ,.one! .us$, when that $noc$ing came to distur% her. Now# gentlemen# we la!ed ,.one! .us$, 3ust %e"ore we were called out to su er# and as we went to su er rom tl! at one# !ou can see 3ust how m!

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calculation was made. Thirt!&"ive minutes# then# assed %etween the moment 8ames <a%el was seen rushing "rom .rs. +e%%,s gatewa! and that in which he a eared at Loton,s %a$er!# demanding a loa" o" %read# and o""ering in e4change one o" the %ills which had %een stolen "rom the murdered woman,s drawer. Thirt!&"ive minutes( And he and his %rother were starving. /oes it loo$# then# as i" that mone! was in his ossession when he le"t .rs. +e%%,s house- +ould an! man who "elt the angs o" hunger as he did# or who saw a %rother erishing "or "ood %e"ore his e!es# allow thirt!&"ive minutes to ela se %e"ore he made use o" the mone! that right"ull! or wrong"ull! had come into his hand- No) and so I sa! that he did not have it when .r. Crane met him. That# instead o" committing crime to o%tain it# he "ound it in his own home# l!ing on his ta%le# when# a"ter his "ren7ied a%sence# he returned to tell his dread"ul news to the %rother he had le"t %ehind him. 6ut how did it come there- !ou as$. 2entlemen# remem%er the "oot rints under the window. Ama%el 5age %rought it. Having seen or erha s met this old man roaming in or near the +e%% cottage during the time she was there hersel"# she conceived the lan o" throwing u on him the onus o" the crime she had hersel" committed# and with a sl!ness to %e e4 ected "rom one so cra"t!# stole u to his home# made a hole in the shade hanging over an o en window# loo$ed into the room where 8ohn sat# saw that he was there alone and aslee # and# cree ing in %! the "ront door# laid on the ta%le %eside him the twent!& dollar %ill and the %lood! dagger with which she had 3ust slain Agatha +e%%. Then she stole out again# and in twent! minutes more was leading the dance in .r. *utherland,s arlour.' '+ell reasoned(' murmured A%el# e4 ecting the others to echo him. 6ut# though .r. Fenton and /r. Tal%ot loo$ed almost convinced# the! said nothing# while 9na # o" course# was 0uiet as an o!ster. *weetwater# with an eas! smile calculated to hide his disa er"ectl! satis"ied. ointment# went on as i"

'.eanwhile 8ohn awa$es# sees the dagger# and thin$s to end his miser! with it# %ut "inds himsel" too "ee%le. The cut in his vest# the dent in the "loor# rove this# %ut i" !ou call "or "urther roo"# a little "act# which some# i" not all# o" !ou seem to have overloo$ed# will am l! satis"! !ou that this one at least o" m! conclusions is correct. O en the 6i%le# A%el) o en it# not to sha$e it "or what will never "all "rom %etween its leaves# %ut to "ind in the 6i%le itsel" the lines I have declared to !ou he wrote as a d!ing legac! with that tightl! clutched encil. Have !ou "ound them-' 'No#' was A%el,s margin.' er le4ed retort) 'I cannot see an! sign o" writing on "l!lea" or

'Are those the onl! %lan$ laces in the sacred %oo$- *earch the leaves devoted to the "amil! record. Now( what do !ou "ind there-'

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9na # who was losing some o" his indi""erence# drew nearer and read "or himsel" the scrawl which now a eared to ever! e!e on the discoloured age which A%el here turned u ermost. 'Almost illegi%le#' he said) 'one can 3ust ma$e out these words1 ,Forgive me# 8ames&& tried to use dagger&&"ound l!ing&&%ut hand wouldn,t&&d!ing without&&don,t grieve&&true men&&haven,t disgraced ourselves&&2od %less&&, That is all.' 'The e""ort must have overcome him#' resumed *weetwater in a voice "rom which he care"ull! e4cluded all signs o" secret trium h# 'and when 8ames returned# as he did a "ew minutes later# he was evidentl! una%le to as$ 0uestions# even i" 8ohn was in a condition to answer them. 6ut the "allen dagger told its own stor!# "or 8ames ic$ed it u and ut it %ac$ on the ta%le# and it was at this minute he saw# what 8ohn had not# the twent!&dollar %ill l!ing there with its romise o" li"e and com"ort. Ho e revives) he catches u the %ill# "lies down to Loton,s# rocures a loa" o" %read# and comes "ranticall! %ac$# gnawing it as he runs) "or his own hunger is more than he can endure. Re&entering his %rother,s resence# he rushes "orward with the %read. 6ut the relie" has come too late) 8ohn has died in his a%sence) and 8ames# di77! with the shoc$# reels %ac$ and succum%s to his own miser!. 2entlemen# have !ou an!thing to sa! in contradiction to these various su ositions-' For a moment /r. Tal%ot# .r. Fenton# and even 9na remar$ed# with ardona%le dr!ness1 stood silent) then the last

'All this is ingenious# %ut# un"ortunatel!# it is u set %! a little "act which !ou !oursel" have overloo$ed. Have !ou e4amined attentivel! the dagger o" which !ou have so o"ten s o$en# .r. *weetwater-' 'Not as I would li$e to# %ut I noticed it had %lood on its edge# and was o" the sha e and si7e necessar! to in"lict the wound "rom which .rs. +e%% died.' '=er! good# %ut there is something else o" interest to %e o%served on it. Fetch it# A%el.' A%el# hurr!ing "rom the room# soon %rought %ac$ the wea on in 0uestion. *weetwater# with a vague sense o" disa ointment distur%ing him# too$ it eagerl! and studied it ver! closel!. 6ut he onl! shoo$ his head. '6ring it nearer to the light#' suggested 9na to o" the handle.' # 'and e4amine the little scroll near the

*weetwater did so# and at once changed colour. In the midst o" the scroll were two ver! small %ut !et er"ectl! distinct letters) the! were 8. <.

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'How did Ama%el 5age come %! a dagger mar$ed with the <a%el initials-' 0uestioned 9na . '/o !ou thin$ her "oresight went so "ar as to rovide hersel" with a dagger ostensi%l! %elonging to one o" these %rothers- And then# have !ou "orgotten that when .r. Crane met the old man at .rs. +e%%,s gatewa! he saw in his hand something that glistened- Now what was that# i" not this dagger-' *weetwater was more distur%ed than he cared to ac$nowledge. 'That 3ust shows m! lac$ o" e4 erience#' he grum%led. 'I thought I had turned this su%3ect so thoroughl! over in m! mind that no one could %ring an o%3ection against it.' 9na shoo$ his head and smiled. 'Young enthusiasts li$e !oursel" are great at "orming theories which well&seasoned men li$e m!sel" must regard as "antastical. However#' he went on# 'there is no dou%t that .iss 5age was a witness to# even i" she has not ro"ited %!# the murder we have %een considering. 6ut# with this al a%le roo" o" the <a%els, direct connection with the a""air# I would not recommend her arrest as !et.' '*he should %e under surveillance# though#' intimated the coroner. '.ost certainl!#' ac0uiesced 9na . ortunit! came "or him to whis er As "or *weetwater# he remained silent till the o a art to /r. Tal%ot# when he said1

'For all the al a%le roo" o" which .r. 9na s ea$s&&the 8. <. on the dagger# and the ossi%ilit! o" this %eing the o%3ect he was seen carr!ing out o" 5hilemon +e%%,s gate&&I maintain that this old man in his mori%und condition never struc$ the %low that $illed Agatha +e%%. He hadn,t strength enough# even i" his li"elong love "or her had not %een su""icient to revent him.' The coroner loo$ed thought"ul. 'You are right#' said he) 'he hadn,t strength enough. 6ut don,t e4 end too much energ! in tal$. +ait and see what a "ew direct 0uestions will elicit "rom .iss 5age.' C=III. *O.E LEA/IN2 F>E*TION* Frederic$ rose earl!. He had sle t %ut little. The words he had overheard at the end o" the lot the night %e"ore were still ringing in his ears. 2oing down the %ac$ stairs# in his an4iet! to avoid Ama%el# he came u on one o" the sta%lemen.

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'6een to the village this morning-' he as$ed. 'No# sir# %ut Lem has. There,s great news there. I wonder i" an!one has told .r. *utherland.' '+hat news# 8a$e- I don,t thin$ m! "ather is u !et.' '+h!# sir# there were two more deaths in town last night&&the %rothers <a%el) and "ol$s do sa! :Lem heard it a do7en times %etween the grocer! and the "ish mar$et; that it was one o" these old men who $illed .rs. +e%%. The dagger has %een "ound in their house# and most o" the mone!. +h!# sir# what,s the matter- Are !ou sic$-' Frederic$ made an e""ort and stood u right. He had nearl! "allen. 'No) that is# I am not 0uite m!sel". *o man! horrors# 8a$e. +hat did the! die o"- You sa! the! are %oth dead&&%oth-' 'Yes# sir# and it,s dread"ul to thin$ o"# %ut it was hunger# sir. 6read came too late. 6oth men are mere s$eletons to loo$ at. The! have $e t themselves close "or wee$s now# and no%od! $new how %ad o"" the! were. I don,t wonder it u set !ou# sir. +e all "eel it a %it# and I 3ust dread to tell .r. *utherland.' Frederic$ staggered awa!. He had never in his li"e %een so near mental and h!sical colla se. At the threshold o" the sitting&room door he met his "ather. .r. *utherland was loo$ing %oth trou%led and an4ious) more so# Frederic$ thought# than when he signed the chec$ "or him on the revious night. As their e!es met# %oth showed em%arrassment# %ut Frederic$# whose nerves had %een highl! strung %! what he had 3ust heard# soon controlled himsel"# and surve!ing his "ather with "orced calmness# %egan1 'This is dread"ul news# sir.' 6ut his "ather# intent on his own thought# hurriedl! interru ted him. 'You told me !esterda! that ever!thing was %ro$en o"" %etween !ou and .iss 5age. Yet I saw !ou reenter the house together last night a little while a"ter I gave !ou the mone! !ou as$ed "or.' 'I $now# and it must have had a %ad a earance. I entreat !ou# however# to %elieve that this meeting %etween .iss 5age and m!sel" was against m! wish# and that the relations %etween us have not %een a""ected %! an!thing that assed %etween us.' 'I am glad to hear it# m! son. You could not do worse %! !oursel" than to return to !our old devotion.'

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'I agree with !ou# sir.' And then# %ecause he could not hel it# Frederic$ in0uired i" he had heard the news. .r. *utherland# evidentl! startled# as$ed what news) to which Frederic$ re lied1 'The news a%out the <a%els. The! are %oth dead# sir#&&dead "rom hunger. Can !ou imagine it(' This was something so di""erent "rom what his "ather had e4 ected to hear# that he did not ta$e it in at "irst. +hen he did# his sur rise and grie" were even greater than Frederic$ had antici ated. *eeing him so a""ected# Frederic$# who thought that the whole truth would %e no harder to %ear than the hal"# added the sus icion which had %een attached to the !ounger one,s name# and then stood %ac$# scarcel! daring to %e a witness to the outraged "eelings which such a communication could not "ail to awa$en in one o" his "ather,s tem erament. 6ut though he thus esca ed the shoc$ed loo$ which crossed his "ather,s countenance# he could not "ail to hear the indignant e4clamation which %urst "rom his li s# nor hel erceiving that it would ta$e more than the most com lete circumstantial evidence to convince his "ather o" the guilt o" men he had $nown and res ected "or so man! !ears. For some reason Frederic$ e4 erienced great relie" at this# and was %racing himsel" to meet the "ire o" 0uestions which his statement must necessaril! call "orth# when the sound o" a roaching ste s drew the attention o" %oth towards a art! o" men coming u the hillside. Among them was .r. Courtne!# 5rosecuting Attorne! "or the district# and as .r. *utherland recognised him he s rang "orward# sa!ing# 'There,s Courtne!) he will e4 lain this.' Frederic$ "ollowed# an4ious and %ewildered# and soon had the dou%t"ul leasure o" seeing his "ather enter his stud! in com an! with the "our men considered to %e most interested in the elucidation o" the +e%% m!ster!. As he was lingering in an undecided mood in the small assagewa! leading u &stairs he "elt the ressure o" a "inger on his shoulder. Loo$ing u # he met the e!es o" Ama%el# who was leaning toward him over the %anisters. *he was smiling# and# though her "ace was not without evidences o" h!sical languor# there was a charm a%out her erson which would have %een su""icientl! enthralling to him twent!&"our hours %e"ore# %ut which now caused him such a h!sical re ulsion that he started %ac$ in the e""ort to rid his shoulder "rom her distur%ing touch.

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*he "rowned. It was an instantaneous e4 ression o" dis leasure which was soon lost in one o" her gurgling laughs. 'Is m! touch so %urdensome-' she demanded. 'I" the ressure o" one "inger is so un%eara%le to !our sensitive nerves# how will !ou relish the weight o" m! whole hand-' There was a "ierceness in her tone# a ur ose in her loo$# that "or the "irst time in his struggle with her revealed the "ull de th o" her dar$ nature. *hrin$ing "rom her a alled# he ut u his hand in rotest# at which she changed again in a twin$ling# and with a cautious gesture toward the room into which .r. *utherland and his "riends had disa eared# she whis ered signi"icantl!1 '+e ma! not have another chance to con"er together. >nderstand# then# that it will not %e necessar! "or !ou to tell me# in so man! words# that !ou are read! to lin$ !our "ortunes to mine) the ta$ing o"" o" the ring !ou wear and !our slow utting o" it on again# in m! resence# will %e understood %! me as a to$en that !ou have reconsidered !our resent attitude and desire m! silence and&&m!sel".' Frederic$ could not re ress a shudder. For an instant he was tem ted to succum% on the s ot and have the long agon! over. Then his horror o" the woman rose to such a itch that he uttered an e4ecration# and# turning awa! "rom her "ace# which was ra idl! growing loathsome to him# he ran out o" the assagewa! into the garden# seeing as he ran a ersistent vision o" himsel" ulling o"" the ring and utting it %ac$ again# under the s ell o" a loo$ he re%elled against even while he !ielded to its in"luence. 'I will not wear a ring# I will not su%3ect m!sel" to the ossi%ilit! o" o%e!ing her %ehest under a sudden stress o" "ear or "ascination#' he e4claimed# ausing %! the well&cur% and loo$ing over it at his re"lection in the water %eneath. 'I" I dro it here I at least lose the horror o" doing what she suggests# under some involuntar! im ulse.' 6ut the thought that the mere a%sence o" the ring "rom his "inger would not stand in the wa! o" his going through the motions to which she had 3ust given such signi"icance# deterred him "rom the sacri"ice o" a valua%le "amil! 3ewel# and he le"t the s ot with an air o" "ren7! such as a man dis la!s when he "eels himsel" on the verge o" a doom he can neither meet nor avert. As he re&entered the house# he "elt himsel" envelo ed in the atmos here o" a coming crisis. He could hear voices in the u er hall# and amongst them he caught the accents o" her he had learned so latel! to "ear. Im elled %! something dee er than curiosit! and more otent even than dread# he

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hastened toward the stairs. +hen hal"&wa! u # he caught sight o" Ama%el. *he was leaning %ac$ against the %alustrade that ran across the u er hall# with her hands gri ing the rail on either side o" her and her "ace turned toward the "ive men who had evidentl! issued "rom .r. *utherland,s stud! to interview her. As her %ac$ was to Frederic$ he could not 3udge o" the e4 ression o" that "ace save %! the e""ect it had u on the di""erent men con"ronting her. 6ut to see them was enough. From their loo$s he could erceive that this !oung girl was in one o" her %a""ling moods# and that "rom his "ather down# not one o" the men resent $new what to ma$e o" her. At the sound his "eet made# a rela4ation too$ lace in her %od! and she lost something o" the de"iant attitude she had %e"ore maintained. 5resentl! he heard her voice1 'I am willing to answer an! 0uestions !ou ma! choose to ut to me here) %ut I cannot consent to shut m!sel" in with !ou in that small stud!) I should su""ocate.' Frederic$ could erceive the loo$s which assed %etween the "ive men assem%led %e"ore her# and was astonished to note that the insigni"icant "ellow the! called *weetwater was the "irst to answer. '=er! well#' said he) 'i" !ou en3o! the o%3ect. Is not that so# gentlemen-' u%licit! o" the o en hall# no one here will

Her two little "ingers# which were turned towards Frederic$# ran u and down the rail# ma$ing a eculiar ras ing noise# which "or a moment was the onl! sound to %e heard. Then .r. Courtne! said1 'How came !ou to have the handling o" the mone! ta$en "rom Agatha +e%%,s rivate drawer-' It was a startling 0uestion# %ut it seemed to a""ect Ama%el less than it did Frederic$. It made him start# %ut she onl! turned her head a tri"le aside# so that the eculiar smile with which she re ared to answer could %e seen %! an!one standing %elow. '*u ose !ou as$ something less leading than that# to %egin with#' she suggested# in her high# unmusical voice. 'From the searching nature o" this in0uir!# !ou evidentl! %elieve I have in"ormation o" an im ortant character to give !ou concerning .rs. +e%%,s unha ! death. As$ me a%out that) the other 0uestion I will answer later.'

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The a lom% with which this was said# mi4ed as it was with a "eminine allurement o" more than ordinar! su%tlet!# made .r. *utherland "rown and /r. Tal%ot loo$ er le4ed# %ut it did not em%arrass .r. Courtne!# who made haste to res ond in his dr!est accents1 '=er! well# I am not articular as to what !ou answer "irst. A "lower worn %! !ou at the dance was "ound near 6ats!,s s$irts# %e"ore she was li"ted u that morning. Can !ou e4 lain this# or# rather# will !ou-' 'You are not o%liged to# !ou $now#' ut in .r. *utherland# with his ine4ora%le sense o" 3ustice. '*till# i" !ou would# it might ro% these gentlemen o" sus icions !ou certainl! cannot wish them to entertain.' '+hat I sa!#' she remar$ed slowl!# 'will %e as true to the "acts as i" I stood here on m! oath. I can e4 lain how a "lower "rom m! hair came to %e in .rs. +e%%,s house# %ut not how it came to %e "ound under 6ats!,s "eet. That someone else must clear u .' Her little "inger# li"ted "rom the rail# ointed toward Frederic$# %ut no one saw this# unless it was that gentleman himsel". 'I wore a ur le orchid in m! hair that night# and there would %e nothing strange in its %eing a"terward ic$ed u in .rs. +e%%,s house# %ecause I was in that house at or near the time she was murdered.' 'You in that house-' 'Yes# as "ar as the ground "loor) no "arther.' Here the little "inger sto ed ointing. 'I am read! to tell !ou a%out it# sirs# and onl! regret I have dela!ed doing so so long# %ut I wished to %e sure it was necessar!. Your resence here and !our "irst 0uestion show that it is.' There was suavit! in her tone now# not unmi4ed with candour. *weetwater did not seem to relish this# "or he moved uneasil! and lost a shade o" his sel"&satis"ied attitude. He had still to %e made ac0uainted with all the ins and outs o" this woman,s remar$a%le nature. '+e are waiting#' suggested /r. Tal%ot. *he turned to "ace this new s ea$er# and Frederic$ was relieved "rom the sight o" her tantalising smile. 'I will tell m! stor! sim l!#' said she# 'with the sim le suggestion that !ou %elieve me) otherwise !ou will ma$e a mista$e. +hile I was resting "rom a dance the other night# I heard two o" the !oung eo le tal$ing a%out the <a%els. One o" them was laughing at the old men# and the other was tr!ing to relate some hal"&"orgotten stor! o" earl! love which had %een the cause# she thought# o" their strange and melanchol! lives. I was listening to them# %ut I did not ta$e in much o" what the! were sa!ing till I heard %ehind me an

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irasci%le voice e4claiming1 ,You laugh# do !ou- I wonder i" !ou would laugh so easil! i" !ou $new that these two oor old men haven,t had a decent meal in a "ortnight-, I didn,t $now the s ea$er# %ut I was thrilled %! his words. Not had a good meal# these men# "or a "ortnight( I "elt as i" ersonall! guilt! o" their su""ering# and# ha ening to raise m! e!es at this minute and seeing through an o en door the %ounti"ul re"reshments re ared "or us in the su er room# I "elt guiltier than ever. *uddenl! I too$ a resolution. It was a 0ueer one# and ma! serve to show !ou some o" the oddities o" m! nature. Though I was engaged "or the ne4t dance# and though I was dressed in the "lims! garments suita%le to the occasion# I decided to leave the %all and carr! some sandwiches down to these old men. 5rocuring a %it o" a er# I made u a %undle and stole out o" the house without having said a word to an!%od! o" m! intention. Not wishing to %e seen# I went out %! the garden door# which is at the end o" the dar$ hall&&' '8ust as the %and was la!ing the Hare%ell ma7ur$a#' inter olated *weetwater. *tartled "or the "irst time "rom her careless com osure %! an interru tion o" which it was im ossi%le "or her at that time to measure either the motive or the meaning# she ceased to la! with her "ingers on the %aluster rail and let her e!es rest "or a moment on the man who had thus s o$en# as i" she hesitated %etween her desire to annihilate him "or his im ertinence and a "ear o" the cold hate she saw actuating his ever! word and loo$. Then she went on# as i" no one had s o$en1 'I ran down the hill rec$lessl!. I was %ent on m! errand and not at all a"raid o" the dar$. +hen I reached that art o" the road where the streets %ranch o""# I heard "ootste s in "ront o" me. I had overta$en someone. *lac$ening m! ace# so that I should not ass this erson# whom I instinctivel! $new to %e a man# I "ollowed him till I came to a high %oard "ence. It was that surrounding Agatha +e%%,s house# and when I saw it I could not hel connecting the rather stealth! gait o" the man in "ront o" me with a stor! I had latel! heard o" the large sum o" mone! she was $nown to $ee in her house. +hether this was %e"ore or a"ter this erson disa eared round the corner I cannot sa!# %ut no sooner had I %ecome certain that he was %ent u on entering this house than m! im ulse to "ollow him %ecame greater than m! recaution# and turning aside "rom the direct ath to the <a%els,# I hurried down High *treet 3ust in time to see the man enter .rs. +e%%,s "ront gatewa!. 'It was a late hour "or visiting# %ut as the house had lights in %oth its lower and u er stories# I should %! good rights have ta$en it "or granted that he was an e4 ected guest and gone on m! wa! to the <a%els,. 6ut I did not. The so"tness with which this erson ste ed and the s$ul$ing wa! in which he hesitated at the "ront gate aroused m! worst "ears# and a"ter he had o ened that gate and slid in# I was so ursued %! the idea that he was there "or no

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good that I ste ed inside the gate m!sel" and too$ m! stand in the dee shadow cast %! the old ear tree on the right& hand side o" the wal$. /id an!one s ea$-' There was a unanimous denial "rom the "ive gentlemen %e"ore her# !et she did not loo$ satis"ied. 'I thought I heard someone ma$e a remar$#' she re eated# and aused again "or a hal"&minute# during which her smile was a stud!# it was so cold and in such startling contrast to the vivid glances she threw ever!where e4ce t %ehind her on the landing where Frederic$ stood listening to her ever! word. '+e are ver! much interested#' remar$ed .r. Courtne!. '5ra!# go on.' /rawing her le"t hand "rom the %alustrade where it had rested# she loo$ed at one o" her "ingers with an odd %ac$ward gesture. 'I will#' she said# and her tone was hard and threatening. 'Five minutes# no longer# assed# when I was startled %! a loud and terri%le cr! "rom the house# and loo$ing u at the second&stor! window "rom which the sound roceeded# I saw a woman,s "igure hanging out in a seemingl! ulseless condition. Too terri"ied to move# I clung trem%ling to the tree# hearing and not hearing the shouts and laughter o" a do7en or more men# who at that minute assed %! the corner on their wa! to the wharves. I was da7ed# I was cho$ing# and onl! came to m!sel" when# sooner or later# I do not $now how soon or how late# a "resh horror ha ened. The woman whom I had 3ust seen "all almost "rom the window was a serving woman# %ut when I heard another scream I $new that the mistress o" the house was %eing attac$ed# and rivetting m! e!es on those windows# I %eheld the shade o" one o" them thrown %ac$ and a hand a ear# "linging out something which "ell in the grass on the o osite side o" the lawn. Then the shade "ell again# and hearing nothing "urther# I ran to where the o%3ect "lung out had "allen# and "eeling "or it# "ound and ic$ed u an old&"ashioned dagger# dri ing with %lood. Horri"ied %e!ond all e4 ression# I dro ed the wea on and retreated into m! "ormer lace o" concealment. '6ut I was not satis"ied to remain there. A curiosit!# a determination even# to see the man who had committed this dastardl! deed# attac$ed me with such "orce that I was induced to leave m! hiding& lace and even to enter the house where in all ro%a%ilit! he was counting the gains he had 3ust o%tained at the rice o" so much recious %lood. The door# which he had not er"ectl! closed %ehind him# seemed to invite me in# and %e"ore I had realised m! own temerit!# I was standing in the hall o" this ill& "ated house.' The interest# which u to this moment had %een %reathless# now e4 ressed itsel" in hurried e3aculations and %ro$en words) and .r. *utherland# who had

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listened li$e one in a dream# e4claimed eagerl!# and in a tone which roved that he# "or the moment at least# %elieved this more than im ro%a%le tale1 'Then !ou can tell us i" 5hilemon was in the little room at the moment when !ou entered the house-' As ever!one there resent realised the im ortance o" this 0uestion# a general movement too$ lace and each and all drew nearer as she met their e!es and answered lacidl!1 'Yes) .r. +e%% was sitting in a chair aslee . He was the onl! erson I saw.' 'Oh# I $now he never committed this crime#' gas ed his old "riend# in a relie" so great that one and all seemed to share it. 'Now I have courage "or the rest. 2o on# .iss 5age.' 6ut .iss 5age aused again to loo$ at her "inger# and give that sidewa!s toss to her head that seemed so uncalled "or %! the situation to an! who did not $now o" the com act %etween hersel" and the listening man %elow. 'I hate to go %ac$ to that moment#' said she) '"or when I saw the candles %urning on the ta%le# and the hus%and o" the woman who at that ver! instant was ossi%l! %reathing her last %reath in the room overhead# sitting there in unconscious a ath!# I "elt something rise in m! throat that made me deathl! sic$ "or a moment. Then I went right in where he was# and was a%out to sha$e his arm and wa$e him# when I detected a s ot o" %lood on m! "inger "rom the dagger I had handled. That gave me another turn# and led me to wi e o"" m! "inger on his sleeve.' 'It,s a it! !ou did not wi e o"" !our sli ers too#' murmured *weetwater. Again she loo$ed at him# again her e!es o ened in terror u on the "ace o" this man# once so lain and insigni"icant in her e!es# %ut now so "illed with menace she inwardl! 0ua$ed %e"ore it# "or all her a arent scorn. '*li ers#' she murmured. '/id not !our "eet as well as !our hands ass through the %lood on the grass-' *he disdained to answer him. 'I have accounted "or the %lood on m! hand#' she said# not loo$ing at him# %ut at .r. Courtne!. 'I" there is an! on m! sli ers it can %e accounted "or in the same wa!.' And she ra idl! resumed her narrative. 'I had no sooner made

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m! little "inger clean I never thought o" an!one sus ecting the old gentleman when I heard ste s on the stairs and $new that the murderer was coming down# and in another instant would ass the o en door %e"ore which I stood. 'Though I had %een courageous enough u to that minute# I was sei7ed %! a sudden anic at the ros ect o" meeting "ace to "ace one whose hands were erha s dri ing with the %lood o" his victim. To con"ront him there and then might mean death to me# and I did not want to die# %ut to live# "or I am !oung# sirs# and not without a ros ect o" ha iness %e"ore me. *o I s rang %ac$# and seeing no other lace o" concealment in the whole %are room# crouched down in the shadow o" the man !ou call 5hilemon. For one# two minutes# I $nelt there in a state o" mortal terror# while the "eet descended# aused# started to enter the room where I was# hesitated# turned# and "inall! le"t the house.' '.iss 5age# wait# wait#' ut in the coroner. 'You saw him) !ou can tell who this man was-' The eagerness o" this a eal seemed to e4cite her. A slight colour a eared in her chee$s and she too$ a ste "orward# %ut %e"ore the words "or which the! so an4iousl! waited could leave her li s# she gave a start and drew %ac$ with# an e3aculation which le"t a more or less sinister echo in the ears o" all who heard it. Frederic$ had 3ust shown himsel" at the to o" the staircase. '2ood&morning# gentlemen#' said he# advancing into their midst with an air whose une4 ected manliness disguised his inward agitation. 'The "ew words I have 3ust heard .iss 5age sa! interest me so much# I "ind it im ossi%le not to 3oin !ou.' Ama%el# u on whose li s a "aint com lacent smile had a eared as he ste ed %! her# glanced u at these words in secret astonishment at the indi""erence the! showed# and then dro ed her e!es to his hands with an intent ga7e which seemed to a""ect him un leasantl!# "or he thrust them immediatel! %ehind him# though he did not lower his head or lose his air o" determination. 'Is m! resence here undesira%le-' he in0uired# with a glance towards his "ather. *weetwater loo$ed as i" he thought it was# %ut he did not resume to sa! an!thing# and the others %eing too interested in the develo ments o" .iss 5age,s stor! to waste an! time on lesser matters# Frederic$ remained# greatl! to .iss 5age,s evident satis"action.

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'/id !ou see this man,s "ace-' .r. Courtne! now %ro$e in# in urgent in0uir!. Her answer came slowl!# a"ter another long loo$ in Frederic$,s direction. 'No# I did not dare to ma$e the e""ort. I was o%liged to crouch too close to the "loor. I sim l! heard his "ootste s.' '*ee# now(' muttered *weetwater# %ut in so low a tone she did not hear him. '*he condemns hersel". There isn,t a woman living who would "ail to loo$ u under such circumstances# even at the ris$ o" her li"e.' 9na seemed to agree with him# %ut .r. Courtne!# "ollowing his one idea# ressed his "ormer 0uestion# sa!ing1 '+as it an old man,s ste -' 'It was not an agile one.' 'And !ou did not catch the least glim se o" the man,s "ace or "igure-' 'Not a glim se.' '*o !ou are in no osition to identi"! him-' 'I" %! an! chance I should hear those same "ootste s coming down a "light o" stairs# I thin$ I should %e a%le to recognise them#' she allowed# in the sweetest tones at her command. '*he $nows it is too late "or her to hear those o" the two dead <a%els#' growled the man "rom 6oston. '+e are no nearer the solution o" this m!ster! than we were in the %eginning#' remar$ed the coroner. '2entlemen# I have not !et "inished m! stor!#' intimated Ama%el# sweetl!. '5erha s what I have !et to tell ma! give !ou some clew to the identit! o" this man.' 'Ah# !es) go on# go on. You have not !et e4 lained how !ou came to %e in ossession o" Agatha,s mone!.' '8ust so#' she answered# with another 0uic$ loo$ at Frederic$# the last she gave him "or some time. 'As soon# then# as I dared# I ran out o" the house into the !ard. The moon# which had %een under a cloud# was now shining %rightl!# and %! its light I saw that the s ace %e"ore me was em t! and that I might venture to enter the street. 6ut %e"ore doing so I loo$ed a%out "or the dagger I

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had thrown "rom me %e"ore going in# %ut I could not "ind it. It had %een ic$ed u %! the "ugitive and carried awa!. Anno!ed at the cowardice which had led me to lose such a valua%le iece o" evidence through a urel! womanish emotion# I was a%out to leave the !ard# when m! e!es "ell on the little %undle o" sandwiches which I had %rought down "rom the hill and which I had let "all under the ear tree# at the "irst scream I had heard "rom the house. It had %urst o en and two or three o" the sandwiches la! %ro$en on the ground. 6ut those that were intact I ic$ed u # and %eing more than ever an4ious to cover u %! some ostensi%le errand m! a%sence "rom the art!# I rushed awa! toward the lonel! road where these %rothers lived# meaning to leave such "ragments as remained on the old doorste # %e!ond which I had %een told such su""ering e4isted. 'It was now late# ver! late# "or a girl li$e m!sel" to %e out# %ut# under the e4citement o" what I had 3ust seen and heard# I %ecame o%livious to "ear# and rushed into those dismal shadows as into trans arent da!light. 5erha s the shouts and stra! sounds o" laughter that came u "rom the wharves where a shi was getting under wa! gave me a certain sense o" com anionshi . 5erha s&&%ut it is "oll! "or me to dilate u on m! "eelings) it is m! errand !ou are interested in# and what ha ened when I a roached the <a%els, drear! dwelling.' The loo$ with which she aused# ostensi%l! to ta$e %reath# %ut in realit! to weigh and criticise the loo$s o" those a%out her# was one o" those wholl! indescri%a%le ones with which she was accustomed to control the 3udgment o" men who allowed themselves to watch too closel! the ever&changing e4 ression o" her weird !et charming "ace. 6ut it "ell u on men steeled against her "ascinations# and realising her ina%ilit! to move them# she roceeded with her stor! %e"ore even the most an4ious o" her hearers could re0uest her to do so. 'I had come along the road ver! 0uietl!#' said she# '"or m! "eet were lightl! shod# and the moonlight was too %right "or me to ma$e a misste . 6ut as I cleared the trees and came into the o en lace where the house stands I stum%led with sur rise at seeing a "igure crouching on the doorste I had antici ated "inding as em t! as the road. It was an old man,s "igure# and as I aused in m! em%arrassment he slowl! and with great "ee%leness rose to his "eet and %egan to gro e a%out "or the door. As he did so# I heard a shar tin$ling sound# as o" something metallic "alling on the doorstone# and# ta$ing a 0uic$ ste "orward# I loo$ed over his shoulder and es ied in the moonlight at his "eet a dagger so li$e the one I had latel! handled in .rs. +e%%,s !ard that I was overwhelmed with astonishment# and surve!ed the aged and "ee%le "orm o" the man who had dro ed it with a sensation di""icult to descri%e. The ne4t moment he was stoo ing "or the wea on# with a startled air that has im ressed itsel" distinctl! u on m! memor!# and when# a"ter man! "ee%le attem ts# he succeeded in gras ing it# he vanished into the house so

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suddenl! that I could not %e sure whether or not he had seen me standing there. 'All this was more than sur rising to me# "or I had never thought o" associating an old man with this crime. Indeed# I was so astonished to "ind him in ossession o" this wea on that I "orgot all a%out m! errand and onl! wondered how I could see and $now more. Fearing detection# I slid in amongst the %ushes and soon "ound m!sel" under one o" the windows. The shade was down and I was a%out to ush it aside when I heard someone moving a%out inside and sto ed. 6ut I could not restrain m! curiosit!# so ulling a hair in "rom m! hair# I wor$ed a little hole in the shade and through this I loo$ed into a room %rightl! illumined %! the moon which shone in through an ad3oining window. And what did I see there-' Her e!e turned on Frederic$. His right hand had stolen toward his le"t# %ut it aused under her loo$ and remained motionless. 'Onl! an old man sitting at a ta%le and&&' +h! did she ause# and wh! did she cover u that ause with a wholl! inconse0uential sentence5erha s Frederic$ could have told# Frederic$# whose hand had now "allen at his side. 6ut Frederic$ volunteered nothing# and no one# not even *weetwater# guessed all that la! %e!ond that AN/ which was le"t hovering in the air to %e "inished&&&whenAlas( had she not set the da! and the hour+hat she did sa! was in seeming e4 lanation o" her revious sentence. 'It was not the same old man I had seen on the doorste # and while I was loo$ing at him I %ecame aware o" someone leaving the house and assing me on the road u &hill. O" course this ended m! interest in what went on within# and turning as 0uic$l! as I could I hurried into the road and "ollowed the shadow I could 3ust erceive disa earing in the woods a%ove me. I was %ound# gentlemen# as !ou see# to "ollow out m! adventure to the end. 6ut m! tas$ now %ecame ver! di""icult# "or the moon was high and shone down u on the road so distinctl! that I could not "ollow the erson %e"ore me as closel! as I wished without running the ris$ o" %eing discovered %! him. I there"ore trusted more to m! ear than to m! e!e# and as long as I could hear his ste s in "ront o" me I was satis"ied. 6ut resentl!# as we turned u this ver! hill# I ceased to hear these ste s and so %ecame con"ident that he had ta$en to the woods. I was so sure o" this that I did not hesitate to enter them m!sel"# and# $nowing the aths well# as I have ever! o ortunit! o" doing# living# as we do# directl! o osite this "orest# I easil! "ound m! wa! to the little clearing that I have reason to thin$ !ou gentlemen have since %ecome ac0uainted with. 6ut though "rom the sounds I heard I was assured that the erson I was "ollowing was not "ar in advance o" me# I did not dare to enter this %rilliantl! illumined s ace# es eciall! as there was ever! indication o" this erson having com leted whatever tas$ he had set "or himsel". Indeed# I was sure that I heard his ste s coming %ac$. *o# "or the second time# I crouched down in the dar$est lace I could "ind and let this m!sterious erson ass me. +hen he had 0uite disa eared# I made m! own retreat# "or it was late# and I was a"raid

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o" %eing missed at the %all. 6ut later# or rather the ne4t da!# I recrossed the road and %egan a search "or the mone! which I was con"ident had %een le"t in the woods o osite# %! the erson I had %een "ollowing. I "ound it# and when the man here resent who# though a mere "iddler# has resumed to ta$e a leading art in this interview# came u on me with the %ills in m! hand# I was %ut %ur!ing dee er the ill& gotten gains I had come u on.' 'Ah# and so ma$ing them !our own#' 0uoth *weetwater# stung %! the sarcasm in that word "iddler. 6ut with a suavit! against which ever! attac$ "ell owerless# she met his signi"icant loo$ with one "ull! as signi"icant# and 0uietl! said1 'I" I had wanted the mone! "or m!sel" I would not have ris$ed leaving it where the murderer could "ind it %! digging u a "ew hand"uls o" mould and a %unch o" sodden leaves. No# I had another motive "or m! action# a motive with which "ew# i" an!# o" !ou will %e willing to credit me. I wished to save the murderer# whom I had some reason# as !ou see# "or thin$ing I $new# "rom the conse0uences o" his own action.' .r. Courtne!# /r. Tal%ot# and even .r. *utherland# who naturall! %elieved she re"erred to <a%el# and who# one and all# had a lingering tenderness "or this un"ortunate old man# which not even this seeming act o" madness on his art could 0uite destro!# "elt a s ecies o" reaction at this# and surve!ed the singular %eing %e"ore them with# erha s# the slightest shade o" relenting in their severit!. *weetwater alone %etra!ed restlessness# 9na showed no "eeling at all# while Frederic$ stood li$e one etri"ied# and moved neither hand nor "oot. 'Crime is des ica%le when it results "rom cu idit! onl!#' she went on# with a deli%erateness so hard that the more susce ti%le o" her auditors shuddered. '6ut crime that s rings "rom some im erative and over owering necessit! o" the mind or %od! might well awa$en s!m ath!# and I am not ashamed o" having %een sorr! "or this "ren7ied and su""ering man. +ea$ and im ulsive as !ou ma! consider me# I did not want him to su""er on account o" a moment,s madness# as he undou%tedl! would i" he were ever "ound with Agatha +e%%,s mone! in his ossession# so I lunged it dee er into the soil and trusted to the con"usion which crime alwa!s awa$ens even in the strongest mind# "or him not to discover its hiding& lace till the danger connected with it was over.' 'Ha( wonder"ul( /evilish su%tle# eh- Clever# too clever(' were some o" the whis ered e4clamations which this curious e4 lanation on her art %rought out. Yet onl! *weetwater showed his o en and entire dis%elie" o" the stor!# the others ossi%l! remem%ering that "or such natures as hers there is no governing law and no common lace inter retation.

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To *weetwater# however# this was %ut so much dis la! o" "eminine resource and su%tlet!. Though he "elt he should $ee still in the resence o" men so greatl! his su eriors# he could not resist sa!ing1 'Truth is sometimes stranger than "iction. I should never have attri%uted an! such motive as !ou mention to the !oung girl I saw leaving this s ot with man! a %ac$ward glance at the hole "rom which we a"terwards e4tracted the large sum o" mone! in 0uestion. 6ut sa! that this re%ur!ing o" stolen "unds was out o" consideration "or the "ee%le old man !ou descri%e as having carried them there# do !ou not see that %! this act !ou can %e held as an accessor! a"ter the "act-' Her e!e%rows went u and the delicate curve o" her li s was not without menace as she said1 'You hate me# .r. *weetwater. /o !ou wish me to tell these gentlemen wh!-' The "lush which# notwithstanding this eculiar !oung man,s nerve# instantl! crimsoned his "eatures# was a sur rise to Frederic$. *o was it to the others# who saw in it a ossi%le hint as to the real cause o" his ersistent ursuit o" this !oung girl# which the! had hitherto ascri%ed entirel! to his love o" 3ustice. *lighted love ma$es some hearts venomous. Could this ungainl! "ellow have once loved and %een disdained %! this %ewitching iece o" unrelia%ilit!It was a ver! ossi%le assum tion# though *weetwater,s %lush was the onl! answer he gave to her 0uestion# which nevertheless had am l! served its turn. To "ill the ga caused %! his silence# .r. *utherland made an e""ort and addressed her himsel". 'Your conduct#' said he# 'has not %een that o" a strictl! honoura%le erson. +h! did !ou "ail to give the alarm when !ou re& entered m! house a"ter %eing witness to this dou%le traged!-' Her serenit! was not to %e distur%ed. 'I have 3ust e4 lained#' she reminded him# 'that I had s!m ath! "or the criminal.' '+e all have s!m ath! "or 8ames <a%el# %ut&&' 'I do not %elieve one word o" this stor!#' inter osed *weetwater# in rec$less disregard o" ro rieties. 'A hungr!# "ee%le old man# li$e <a%el# on the verge o"

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death# could not have "ound his wa! into these woods. You carried the mone! there !oursel"# miss) !ou are the&&' 'Hush(' inter osed the coroner# authoritativel!) 'do not let us go too "ast&&!et. .iss 5age has an air o" s ea$ing the truth# strange and unaccounta%le as it ma! seem. <a%el was an admira%le man once# and i" he was led into the"t and murder# it was not until his "aculties had %een wea$ened %! his own su""ering and that o" his much& loved %rother.' 'Than$ !ou#' was her sim le re l!) and "or the "irst time ever! man there thrilled at her tone. *eeing it# all the dangerous "ascination o" her loo$ and manner returned u on her with dou%le "orce. 'I have %een unwise#' said she# 'and let m! s!m ath! run awa! with m! 3udgment. +omen have im ulses o" this $ind sometimes# and men %lame them "or it# till the! themselves come to the oint o" "eeling the need o" 3ust such %lind devotion. I am sure I regret m! short&sightedness now# "or I have lost esteem %! it# while he&&' +ith a wave o" the hand she dismissed the su%3ect# and /r. Tal%ot# watching her# "elt a shade o" his distrust leave him# and in its lace a s ecies o" admiration "or the lithe# grace"ul# %ewitching ersonalit! %e"ore them# with her childish im ulses and womanl! wit which hal" m!sti"ied and hal" im osed u on them. .r. *utherland# on the contrar!# was neither charmed "rom his antagonism nor convinced o" her honest!. There was something in this matter that could not %e e4 lained awa! %! her argument# and his sus icion o" that something he "elt er"ectl! sure was shared %! his son# toward whose cold# set "ace he had "re0uentl! cast the most uneas! glances. He was not read!# however# to ro%e into the su%3ect more dee l!# nor could he# "or the sa$e o" Frederic$# urge on to an! "urther con"ession a !oung woman whom his unha ! son ro"essed to love# and in whose discretion he had so little con"idence. As "or *weetwater# he had now "ull! recovered his sel"& ossession# and %ore himsel" with great discretion when /r. Tal%ot "inall! said1 '+ell# gentlemen# we have got more than we e4 ected when we came here this morning. There remains# however# a oint regarding which we have received no e4 lanation. .iss 5age# how came that orchid# which I am told !ou wore in !our hair at the dance# to %e "ound l!ing near the hem o" 6ats!,s s$irts- You distinctl! told us that !ou did not go u &stairs when !ou were in .rs. +e%%,s house.' 'Ah# that,s so(' ac0uiesced the 6oston detective dr!l!. 'How came that "lower on the scene o" the murder-' *he smiled and seemed e0ual to the emergenc!. 'That is a m!ster! "or us all to solve#' she said 0uietl!# "ran$l! meeting the e!es o" her 0uestioner.

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'A m!ster! it is !our %usiness to solve#' corrected the district attorne!. 'Nothing that !ou have told us in su ort o" !our innocence would# in the e!es o" the law# weigh "or one instant against the com licit! shown %! that one iece o" circumstantial evidence against !ou.' Her smile carried a certain high&handed denial o" this to one heart there# at least. 6ut her words were hum%le enough. 'I am aware o" that#' said she. Then# turning to where *weetwater stood lowering u on her "rom out his hal"&closed e!es# she im etuousl! e4claimed1 'You# sir# who# with no e4cuse an honoura%le erson can recognise# have seen "it to arrogate to !oursel" duties wholl! out o" !our rovince# rove !oursel" e0ual to !our resum tion %! "erreting out# alone and unassisted# the secret o" this m!ster!. It can %e done# "or# mar$# I did not carr! that "lower into the room where it was "ound. This I am read! to assert %e"ore 2od and %e"ore man(' Her hand was raised# her whole attitude s o$e de"iance and&&hard as it was "or *weetwater to ac$nowledge it&&truth. He "elt that he had received a challenge# and with a 0uic$ glance at 9na # who %arel! res onded %! a shrug# he shi"ted over to the side o" /r. Tal%ot. Ama%el at once dro ed her hand. ealingl! to .r. Courtne!. 'I reall! have no more to sa!# '.a! I go-' she now cried a and I am tired.'

'/id !ou see the "igure o" the man who %rushed %! !ou in the wood- +as it that o" the old man !ou saw on the doorste -' At this direct 0uestion Frederic$ 0uivered in s ite o" his dogged sel"&control. 6ut she# with her "ace u turned to meet the scrutin! o" the s ea$er# showed onl! a childish $ind o" wonder. '+h! do !ou as$ that- Is there an! dou%t a%out its %eing the same-' +hat an actress she was( Frederic$ stood a alled. He had %een ama7ed at the s$ill with which she had mani ulated her stor! so as to $ee her romise to him# and !et leave the wa! o en "or that "urther con"ession which would alter the whole into a denunciation o" himsel" which he would "ind it di""icult# i" not im ossi%le# to meet. 6ut this e4treme dissimulation made him lose heart. It showed her to %e an antagonist o" almost illimita%le resource and secret determination. 'I did not su ose there could %e an! dou%t#' she added# in such a natural tone o" sur rise that .r. Courtne! dro ed the su%3ect# and /r. Tal%ot turned

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to *weetwater# who "or the moment seemed to have ro%%ed 9na lace as the coroner,s con"idant.

o" his right"ul

'*hall we let her go "or the resent-' he whis ered. '*he does loo$ tired# oor girl.' The u%lic challenge which *weetwater had received made him war!# and his re l! was a guarded one1 'I do not trust her# !et there is much to con"irm her stor!. Those sandwiches# now. *he sa!s she dro ed them in .rs. +e%%,s !ard under the ear tree# and that the %ag that held them %urst o en. 2entlemen# the %irds were so %us! there on the morning a"ter the murder that I could not %ut notice them# notwithstanding m! a%sor tion in greater matters. I remem%er wondering what the! were all ec$ing at so eagerl!. 6ut how a%out the "lower whose resence on the scene o" guilt she challenges me to e4 lain- And the mone! so de"tl! re%uried %! her- Can an! e4 lanation ma$e her other than accessor! to a crime on whose "ruits she la!s her hand in a wa! tending solel! to concealment- No# sirs) and so I shall not rela4 m! vigilance over her# even i"# in order to %e "aith"ul to it# I have to suggest that a warrant %e made out "or her im risonment.' 'You are right#' ac0uiesced the coroner# and turning to .iss 5age# he told her she was too valua%le a witness to %e lost sight o"# and re0uested her to re are to accom an! him into town. *he made no o%3ection. On the contrar! her chee$s dim led# and she turned awa! with alacrit! towards her room. 6ut %e"ore the door closed on her she loo$ed %ac$# and# with a ersuasive smile# remar$ed that she had told all she $new# or thought she $new at the time. 6ut that erha s# a"ter thin$ing the matter care"ull! over# she might remem%er some detail that would throw some e4tra light on the su%3ect. 'Call her %ac$(' cried .r. Courtne!. '*he is withholding something. Let us hear it all.' 6ut .r. *utherland# with a side loo$ at Frederic$# ersuaded the district attorne! to ost one all "urther e4amination o" this art"ul girl until the! were alone. The an4ious "ather had noted# what the rest were too reoccu ied to o%serve# that Frederic$ had reached the limit o" his strength and could not %e trusted to reserve his com osure an! longer in "ace o" this searching e4amination into the conduct o" a woman "rom whom he had so latel! detached himsel". CIC. 5OOR 5HILE.ON

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The ne4t da! was the da! o" Agatha,s "uneral. *he was to %e %uried in 5ortchester# %! the side o" her si4 children# and# as the da! was "ine# the whole town# as %! common consent# assem%led in the road along which the hum%le cortege was to ma$e its wa! to the s ot indicated. From the windows o" "armhouses# "rom %etween the trees o" the "ew scattered thic$ets along the wa!# saddened and curious "aces loo$ed "orth till *weetwater# who wal$ed as near as he dared to the immediate "riends o" the deceased# "elt the im ossi%ilit! o" remem%ering them all and gave u the tas$ in des air. 6e"ore one house# a%out a mile out o" town# the rocession aused# and at a gesture "rom the minister ever!one within sight too$ o"" their hats# amid a hush which made almost ain"ull! a arent the twittering o" %irds and the other sounds o" animate and inanimate nature# which are inse ara%le "rom a countr! road. The! had reached widow 8ones,s cottage in which 5hilemon was then sta!ing. The "ront door was closed# and so were the lower windows# %ut in one o" the u er casements a movement was erce ti%le# and in another instant there came into view a woman and man# su orting %etween them the im assive "orm o" Agatha,s hus%and. Holding him u in lain sight o" the almost %reathless throng %elow# the woman ointed to where his darling la! and a eared to sa! something to him. Then there was to %e seen a strange sight. The old man# with his thin white loc$s "luttering in the %ree7e# leaned "orward with a smile# and holding out his arms# cried in a "aint %ut 3o!"ul tone1 'Agatha(' Then# as i" realising "or the "irst time that it was death he loo$ed u on# and that the crowd %elow was a "uneral rocession# his "ace altered and he "ell %ac$ with a low heart%ro$en moan into the arms o" those who su orted him. As his white head disa eared "rom sight# the rocession moved on# and "rom onl! one air o" li s went u that groan o" sorrow with which ever! heart seemed surcharged. One groan. From whose li s did it come- *weetwater endeavoured to ascertain# %ut was not a%le# nor could an!one in"orm him# unless it was .r. *utherland# whom he dared not a roach. This gentleman was on "oot li$e the rest# with his arm "ast lin$ed in that o" his son Frederic$. He had meant to ride# "or the distance was long "or men ast si4t!) %ut "inding the latter resolved to wal$# he had consented to do the same rather than %e se arated "rom his son. He had "ears "or Frederic$&&he could hardl! have told wh!) and as the ceremon! roceeded and Agatha was solemnl! laid awa! in the lace re ared "or her# his s!m athies grew u on him to such an e4tent that he

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"ound it di""icult to 0uit the !oung man "or a moment# or even to turn his e!es awa! "rom the "ace he had never seemed to $now till now. 6ut as "riends and strangers were now leaving the !ard# he controlled himsel"# and assuming a more natural demeanour# as$ed his son i" he were now read! to ride %ac$. 6ut# to his astonishment# Frederic$ re lied that he did not intend to return to *utherland town at resent) that he had %usiness in 5ortchester# and that he was dou%t"ul as to when he would %e read! to return. As the old gentleman did not wish to raise a controvers!# he said nothing# %ut as soon as he saw Frederic$ disa ear u the road# he sent %ac$ the carriage he had ordered# sa!ing that he would return in a 5ortchester gig as soon as he had settled some a""airs o" his own# which might and might not detain him there till evening. Then he roceeded to a little inn# where he hired a room with windows that loo$ed out on the high&road. In one o" these windows he sat all da!# watching "or Frederic$# who had gone "arther u the road. 6ut no Frederic$ a eared# and with vague misgivings# "or which as !et he had no name# he le"t the window and set out on "oot "or home. It was now dar$# %ut a silver! gleam on the hori7on gave romise o" the s eed! rising o" a "ull moon. Otherwise he would not have attem ted to wal$ over a road rover%iall! dar$ and dismal. The church!ard in which the! had 3ust laid awa! Agatha la! in his course. As he a roached it he "elt his heart "ail# and sto ing a moment at the stone wall that se arated it "rom the highroad# he leaned against the trun$ o" a huge elm that guarded the gate o" entrance. As he did so he heard a sound o" re ressed so%%ing "rom some s ot not ver! "ar awa!# and# moved %! some unde"ina%le im ulse stronger than his will# he ushed o en the gate and entered the sacred recincts. Instantl! the weirdness and desolation o" the s ot struc$ him. He wished# !et dreaded# to advance. *omething in the grie" o" the mourner whose so%s he had heard had sei7ed u on his heart&strings# and !et# as he hesitated# the sounds came again# and "orgetting that his intrusion might not rove altogether welcome# he ressed "orward# till he came within a "ew "eet o" the s ot "rom which the so%s issued. He had moved 0uietl!# "eeling the awesomeness o" the lace# and when he aused it was with a sensation o" dread# not to %e entirel! e4 lained %! the sad and dismal surroundings. /ar$ as it was# he discerned the outline o" a "orm l!ing stretched in s eechless miser! across a grave) %ut when# im elled %! an almost irresisti%le com assion# he strove to s ea$# his tongue clove to the roo" o" his mouth and he onl! drew %ac$ "arther into the shadow.

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He had recognised the mourner and the grave. The mourner was Frederic$ and the grave that o" Agatha +e%%. A "ew minutes later .r. *utherland rea eared at the door o" the inn# and as$ed "or a gig and driver to ta$e him %ac$ to *utherlandtown. He said# in e4cuse "or his indecision# that he had underta$en to wal$# %ut had "ound his strength inade0uate to the e4ertion. He was loo$ing ver! ale# and trem%led so that the landlord# who too$ his order# as$ed him i" he were ill. 6ut .r. *utherland insisted that he was 0uite well# onl! in a hurr!# and showed the greatest im atience till he was again started u on the road. For the "irst hal"&mile he sat er"ectl! silent. The moon was now u # and the road stretched %e"ore them# "looded with light. As long as no one was to %e seen on this road# or on the ath running %eside it# .r. *utherland held himsel" erect# his e!es "i4ed %e"ore him# in an attitude o" an4ious in0uir!. 6ut as soon as an! sound came to %rea$ the silence# or there a eared in the distance ahead o" them the least a earance o" a lodding wa!"arer# he drew %ac$# and hid himsel" in the recesses o" the vehicle. This ha ened several times. Then his whole manner changed. The! had 3ust assed Frederic$# wal$ing# with %owed head# toward *utherlandtown. 6ut he was not the onl! erson on the road at this time. A "ew minutes reviousl! the! had assed another man wal$ing in the same direction. As .r. *utherland mused over this he "ound himsel" eering through the small window at the %ac$ o" the %ugg!# striving to catch another glim se o" the two men lodding %ehind him. He could see them %oth# his son,s "orm throwing its long shadow over the moonlit road# "ollowed onl! too closel! %! the man whose ungainl! sha e he "eared to ac$nowledge to himsel" was growing onl! too "amiliar in his e!es. Falling into a trou%led reverie# he %eheld the well&$nown houses# and the great trees under whose shadow he had grown "rom !outh to manhood# "lit %! him li$e hantoms in a dream. 6ut suddenl! one house and one lace drew his attention with a "orce that startled him again into an erect attitude# and sei7ing with one hand the arm o" the driver# he ointed with the other at the door o" the cottage the! were assing# sa!ing in cho$ed tones1 '*ee( see( *omething dread"ul has ha ened since we assed %! here this morning. That is cra e# *amuel# cra e# hanging "rom the door ost !onder(' 'Yes# it is cra e#' answered the driver# 3um ing out and running u the ath to loo$. '5hilemon must %e dead) the good 5hilemon.' Here was a "resh %low. .r. *utherland %owed %e"ore it "or a moment# then he rose hurriedl! and ste ed down into the road %eside the driver.

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'2et in again#' said he# 'and drive on. Ride a hal"&mile# then come %ac$ "or me. I must see the widow 8ones.' The driver# awed %oth %! the occasion and the "eeling it had called u in .r. *utherland# did as he was %id and drove awa!. .r. *utherland# with a glance %ac$ at the road lie had 3ust traversed# wal$ed ain"ull! u the ath to .rs. 8ones,s door. A moment,s conversation with the woman who answered his summons roved the driver,s su osition to %e correct. 5hilemon had assed awa!. He had never rallied "rom the shoc$ he had received. He had 3oined his %eloved Agatha on the da! o" her %urial# and the long traged! o" their mutual li"e was over. 'It is a merc! that no inheritor o" their mis"ortune remains#' 0uoth the good woman# as she saw the a""liction her tidings caused in this much&revered "riend. The assent .r. *utherland gave was mechanical. He was an4iousl! stud!ing the road leading toward 5ortchester. *uddenl! he ste ed hastil! into the house. '+ill !ou %e so good as to let me sit down in !our arlour "or a "ew minutes-' he as$ed. 'I should li$e to rest there "or an instant alone. This "inal %low has u set me.' The good woman %owed. .r. *utherland,s word was law in that town. *he did not even dare to rotest against the ALONE which he had so ointedl! em hasised# %ut le"t him a"ter ma$ing him# as she said# com"orta%le# and went %ac$ to her duties in the room a%ove. It was "ortunate she was so amena%le to his wishes# "or no sooner had her ste s ceased to %e heard than .r. *utherland rose "rom the eas!&chair in which he had %een seated# and# utting out the lam widow 8ones had insisted on lighting# assed directl! to the window# through which he %egan to eer with loo$s o" the dee est an4iet!. A man was coming u the road# a !oung man# Frederic$. As .r. *utherland recognised him he leaned "orward with increased an4iet!# till at the a earance o" his son in "ront his scrutin! grew so strained and enetrating that it seemed to e4ercise a magnetic in"luence u on Frederic$# causing him to loo$ u . The glance he gave the house was %ut momentar!# %ut in that glance the "ather saw all that he had secretl! dreaded. As his son,s e!e "ell on that

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"luttering %it o" cra e# testi"!ing to another death in this alread! much&%ereaved communit!# he staggered wildl!# then in a ause o" dou%t drew nearer and nearer till his "ingers gras ed this s!m%ol o" mourning and clung there. Ne4t moment he was "ar down the road# lunging toward home in a state o" great mental disorder. A hal"&hour a"terwards .r. *utherland reached home. He had not overta$en Frederic$ again# or even his accom an!ing shadow. Ascertaining at his own door that his son had not !et come in# %ut had %een seen going "arther u the hill# he turned %ac$ again into the road and roceeded a"ter him on "oot. The ne4t lace to his own was occu ied %! .r. Hallida!. As he a roached it he caught sight o" a man standing hal" in and hal" out o" the hone!suc$le orch# whom he at "irst thought to %e Frederic$. 6ut he soon saw that it was the "ellow who had %een "ollowing his son all the wa! "rom 5ortchester# and# controlling his "irst movement o" disli$e# he ste ed u to him and 0uietl! said1 '*weetwater# is this !ou-' The !oung man "ell %ac$ and showed a most e4traordinar! agitation# 0uic$l! su ressed# however. 'Yes# sir# it is no one else. /o !ou $now what I am doing here-' 'I "ear I do. You have %een to 5ortchester. You have seen m! son&& ' *weetwater made a hurried# almost an entreating# gesture. 'Never mind that# .r. *utherland. I had rather !ou wouldn,t sa! an!thing a%out that. I am as much %ro$en u %! what I have seen as !ou are. I never sus ected him o" having an! direct connection with this murder) onl! the girl to whom he has so un"ortunatel! attached himsel". 6ut a"ter what I have seen# what am I to thin$- what am I to do- I honour !ou) I would not grieve !ou) %ut&&%ut&& oh# sir# erha s !ou can hel me out o" the ma7e into which I have stum%led. 5erha s !ou can assure me that .r. Frederic$ did not leave the %all at the time she did. I missed him "rom among the dancers. I did not see him %etween twelve and three# %ut erha s !ou did) and&& and&&' His voice %ro$e. He was almost as ro"oundl! agitated as .r. *utherland. As "or the latter# who "ound himsel" una%le to reassure the other on this ver! vital oint# having no remem%rance himsel" o" having seen Frederic$ among his guests during those "atal hours# he stood s eechless# lost in a%!sses# the de th and horror o" which onl! a "ather can a reciate. *weetwater res ected his anguish and "or a moment was silent himsel". Then he %urst out1

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'I had rather never lived to see this da! than %e the cause o" shame or su""ering to !ou. Tell me what to do. *hall I %e dea"# dum%&&' Here .r. *utherland "ound voice. 'You ma$e too much o" what !ou saw#' said he. '.! %o! has "aults and has lived an!thing %ut a satis"actor! li"e# %ut he is not as %ad as !ou would intimate. He can never have ta$en li"e. That would %e incredi%le# monstrous# in one %rought u as he has %een. 6esides# i" he were so "ar gone in evil as to %e willing to attem t crime# he had no motive to do so) *weetwater# he had no motive. A "ew hundred dollars %ut these he could have got "rom me# and did# %ut&&' +h! did the wretched "ather sto - /id he recall the circumstances under which Frederic$ had o%tained these last hundreds "rom him- The! were not ordinar! circumstances# and Frederic$ had %een in no ordinar! strait. .r. *utherland could not %ut ac$nowledge to himsel" that there was something in this whole matter which contradicted the ver! lea he was ma$ing# and not %eing a%le to esta%lish the conviction o" his son,s innocence in his own mind# he was too honoura%le to tr! to esta%lish it in that o" another. His ne4t words %etra!ed the de th o" his struggle1 'It is that girl who has ruined him# *weetwater. He loves %ut dou%ts her# as who could hel doing a"ter the stor! she told us da! %e"ore !esterda!- Indeed# he has dou%ted her ever since that "atal night# and it is this which has %ro$en his heart# and not&& not&&' Again the old gentleman aused) again he recovered himsel"# this time with a touch o" his usual dignit! and sel"&command. 'Leave me#' he cried. 'Nothing that !ou have seen has esca ed me) %ut our inter retations o" it ma! di""er. I will watch over m! son "rom this hour# and !ou ma! trust m! vigilance.' *weetwater %owed. 'You have a right to command me#' said he. 'You ma! have "orgotten# %ut I have not# that I owe m! li"e to !ou. Years ago&& erha s !ou can recall it&&it was at the 6lac$ 5ond&&I was going down "or the third time and m! mother was screaming in terror on the %an$# when !ou lunged in and&&+ell# sir# such things are never "orgotten# and# as I said %e"ore# !ou have onl! to command me.' He turned to go# %ut suddenl! came %ac$. There were signs o" mental con"lict in his "ace and voice. '.r. *utherland# I am not a tal$ative man. I" I trust !our vigilance !ou ma! trust m! discretion. Onl! I must have !our word that !ou will conve! no warning to !our son.' .r. *utherland made an inde"ina%le gesture# and *weetwater again disa eared# this time not to return. As "or .r. *utherland# he remained standing %e"ore .r. Hallida!,s door. +hat had the !oung man meant %! this

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em hatic re etition o" his "ormer suggestion- That he would %e 0uiet# also# and not s ea$ o" what he had seen- +h!# then&&6ut to the ho e thus given# this honest& hearted gentleman would !ield no 0uarter# and seeing a dut! %e"ore him# a dut! he dare not shir$# he %rought his emotions# violent as the! were# into com lete and a%solute su%3ection# and# o ening .r. Hallida!,s door# entered the house. The! were old neigh%ours# and ceremon! was ignored %etween them. Finding the hall em t! and the arlour door o en he wal$ed immediatel! into the latter room. The sight that met his e!es never le"t his memor!. Agnes# his little Agnes# whom he had alwa!s loved and whom he had vainl! longed to call %! the endearing name o" daughter# sat with her "ace towards him# loo$ing u at Frederic$. That !oung gentleman had 3ust s o$en to her# or she had 3ust received something "rom his hand "or her own was held out and her e4 ression was one o" gratitude and acce tance. *he was not a %eauti"ul girl# %ut she had a %eauti"ul loo$# and at this moment it was e4alted %! a "eeling the old gentleman had once longed# %ut now dreaded ine4 ressi%l!# to see there. +hat could it mean- +h! did she show at this unha ! crisis# interest# devotion# assion almost# "or one she had regarded with o en scorn when it was the dearest wish o" his heart to see them united- It was one o" the contradictions o" our m!sterious human nature# and at this crisis and in this moment o" secret heart&%rea$ and misera%le dou%t it made the old gentleman shrin$# with his "irst "eeling o" actual des air. The ne4t moment Agnes had risen and the! were %oth "acing him. '2ood&evening# Agnes.' .r. *utherland "orced himsel" to s ea$ lightl!. 'Ah# Frederic$# do I "ind !ou here-' The latter 0uestion had more constraint in it. Frederic$ smiled. There was an air o" relie" a%out him# almost o" cheer"ulness. 'I was 3ust leaving#' said he. 'I was the %earer o" a message to .iss Hallida!.' He had alwa!s called her Agnes %e"ore. .r. *utherland# who had "ound his "aculties con"used %! the e4 ression he had sur rised on the !oung girl,s "ace# answered with a divided attention1 'And I have a message to give !ou. +ait outside on the orch "or me# Frederic$# till I e4change a word with our little "riend here.' Agnes# who had thrust something she held into a %o4 that la! %eside her on a ta%le# turned with a con"used %lush to listen.

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.r. *utherland waited till Frederic$ had ste ed into the hall. Then he drew Agnes to one side and remorselessl!# ersistentl!# raised her "ace toward him till she was "orced to meet his %enevolent %ut searching regard. '/o !ou $now#' he whis ered# in what he endeavoured to ma$e a %antering tone# 'how ver! "ew da!s it is since that unha ! %o! !onder con"essed his love "or a !oung lad! whose name I cannot %ring m!sel" to utter in !our resence-' The intent was $ind# %ut the e""ect was une4 ectedl! cruel. +ith a droo o" her head and a hurried gas which conve!ed a mi4ture o" entreat! and re roach# Agnes drew %ac$ in a vague endeavour to hide her sudden uneasiness. He saw his mista$e# and let his hands dro . '/on,t# m! dear#' he whis ered. 'I had no idea it would hurt !ou to hear this. You have alwa!s seemed indi""erent# hard even# toward m! sca egrace son. And this was right# "or&&"or&&' +hat could he sa!# how e4 ress one&tenth o" that with which his %reast was la%ouring( He could not# he dared not# so ended# as we have intimated# %! a con"used stammering. Agnes# who had never %e"ore seen this o%3ect o" her li"elong admiration under an! serious emotion# "elt an im ulse o" remorse# as i" she hersel" had %een guilt! o" occasioning him em%arrassment. 5luc$ing u her courage# she wist"ull! e!ed him. '/id !ou imagine#' she murmured# 'that I needed an! warning against Frederic$# who has never honoured me with his regard# as he has the !oung lad! !ou cannot mention- I,m a"raid !ou don,t $now me# .r. *utherland# notwithstanding I have sat on !our $nee and sometimes luc$ed at !our %eard in m! in"antile insistence u on attention.' 'I am a"raid I don,t $now !ou#' he answered. 'I "eel that I $now no%od! now# not even m! son.' He had ho ed she would loo$ u at this# %ut she did not. '+ill m! little girl thin$ me ver! curious and ver! im ertinent i" I as$ her what m! son Frederic$ was sa!ing when I came into the room-' *he loo$ed u now# and with visi%le candour answered him immediatel! and to the oint1 'Frederic$ is in trou%le# .r. *utherland. He has "elt the need o" a "riend who could a reciate this# and he has as$ed me to %e that "riend. 6esides# he %rought me a ac$et o" letters which he entreated me to $ee "or him. I too$

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them# .r. *utherland# and I will $ee ever!%od!,s ins ection# even m! own.'

them as he as$ed me to do# sa"e "rom

Oh( wh! had he 0uestioned her- He did not want to $now o" these letters) he did not want to $now that Frederic$ ossessed an!thing which he was a"raid to retain in his own ossession. '.! son did wrong#' said he# 'to con"ide an!thing to !our care which he did not desire to retain in his own home. I "eel that I ought to see these letters# "or i" m! son is in trou%le# as !ou sa!# I# his "ather# ought to $now it.' 'I am not sure a%out that#' she smiled. 'His trou%le ma! %e o" a di""erent nature than !ou imagine. Frederic$ has led a li"e that he regrets. I thin$ his chie" source o" su""ering lies in the "act that it is so hard "or him to ma$e others %elieve that he means to do di""erentl! in the "uture.' '/oes he mean to do di""erentl!-' *he "lushed. 'He sa!s so# .r. *utherland. And I# "or one# cannot hel %elieving him. /on,t !ou see that he %egins to loo$ li$e another man-' .r. *utherland was ta$en a%ac$. He had noticed this "act# and had "ound it a hard one to understand. To ascertain what her e4 lanation o" it might %e# he re lied at once1 'There is a change in him&&a ver! evident change. +hat is the occasion o" it- To what do !ou ascri%e it# Agnes-' How %reathlessl! he waited "or her answer( Had she an! sus icion o" the aw"ul dou%ts which were so dee l! agitating himsel" that night- *he did not a ear to have. 'I hesitate#' she "altered# '%ut not "rom an! dou%t o" Frederic$# to tell !ou 3ust what I thin$ lies at the %ottom o" the sudden change o%serva%le in him. .iss 5age :!ou see# I can name her# i" !ou cannot; has roved hersel" so unworth! o" his regard that the shoc$ he has received has o ened his e!es to certain "ailings o" his own which made his wea$ness in her regard ossi%le. I do not $now o" an! other e4 lanation. /o !ou-' At this direct 0uestion# %reathed though it was %! tender li s# and launched in ignorance o" the %ar% which carried it to his heart# .r. *utherland recoiled and cast an an4ious loo$ u on the door. Then with "orced com osure he 0uietl! said1 'I" !ou who are so much nearer his age# and# let me ho e# his s!m ath!# do not "eel sure o" his real "eelings# how should I# who am his "ather# %ut have never %een his con"idant-'

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'Oh#' she cried# holding out her hands# 'such a good "ather( *ome da! he will a reciate that "act as well as others. 6elieve it# .r. *utherland# %elieve it.' And then# ashamed o" her glowing interest# which was a little more ronounced than %ecame her sim le attitude o" "riend toward a man ro"essedl! in love with another woman# she "altered and cast the sh!est o" loo$s u ward at the "ace she had never seen turned toward her with an!thing %ut $indness. 'I have con"idence in Frederic$,s good heart#' she added# with something li$e dignit!. '+ould 2od that I could share it(' was the onl! answer she received. 6e"ore she could recover "rom the shoc$ o" these words# .r. *utherland was gone. Agnes was more or less disconcerted %! this interview. There was a lingering in her ste that night# as she trod the little white& em%owered cham%er sacred to her girlish dreams# which %es a$e an overcharged heart) a heart that# %e"ore she sle t# "ound relie" in these "ew words whis ered %! her into the night air# laden with the sweetness o" hone!suc$les1 'Can it %e that he is right- /id I need such a warning#&&I# who have hated this man# and who thought that it was m! hatred which made it im ossi%le "or me to thin$ o" an!thing or an!%od! else since we arted "rom each other last night- O me# i" it is so(' And "rom the great# wide world without# tremulous with moonlight# the echo seemed to come %ac$1 '+oe to thee# Agnes Hallida!# i" this %e so(' CC. A *>R5RI*E FOR .R. *>THERLAN/ .eanwhile .r. *utherland and Frederic$ stood "acing each other in the "ormer,s li%rar!. Nothing had %een said during their wal$ down the hill# and nothing seemed li$el! to roceed "rom Frederic$ now# though his "ather waited with great and growing agitation "or some e4 lanation that would relieve the immense strain on his heart. At last he himsel" s o$e# dr!l!# as we all s ea$ when the heart is "ullest and we "ear to reveal the de th o" our emotions. '+hat a ers were those !ou gave into Agnes Hallida!,s $ee ing- An!thing which we could not have more sa"el!# not to sa! discreetl!# har%oured in our own house-' Frederic$# ta$en a%ac$# "or he had not realised that his "ather had seen these a ers# hesitated "or a moment) then he %oldl! said1

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'The! were letters&&old letters&&which I "elt to %e %etter out o" this house than in it. I could not destro! them# so I gave them into the guardianshi o" the most conscientious erson I $now. I ho e !ou won,t demand to see those letters. Indeed# sir# I ho e !ou won,t demand to see them. The! were not written "or !our e!e# and I would rather rest under !our dis leasure than have them in an! wa! made u%lic.' Frederic$ showed such earnestness# rather than "ear# that .r. *utherland was astonished. '+hen were these letters written-' he as$ed. 'Latel!# or %e"ore&& You sa! the! are old) how old-' Frederic$,s %reath came easier. '*ome o" them were written !ears ago&&most o" them# in "act. It is a ersonal matter&& ever! man has such. I wish I could have destro!ed them. You will leave them with Agnes# sir-' 'You astonish me#' said .r. *utherland# relieved that he could at least ho e that these letters were in nowise connected with the su%3ect o" his own "right"ul sus icions. 'A !oung girl# to whom !ou certainl! were most indi""erent a wee$ ago# is a curious guardian o" letters !ou decline to show !our "ather.' 'I $now it#' was Frederic$,s sole re l!. *omehow the humilit! with which this was uttered touched .r. *utherland and roused ho es he had su osed dead. He loo$ed his son "or the "irst time directl! in the e!e# and with a %eating heart said1 'Your secrets# i" !ou have such# might %etter %e entrusted to !our "ather. You have no %etter "riend&&' and there he sto ed with a horri"ied# des airing "eeling o" inward wea$ness. I" Frederic$ had committed a crime# an!thing would %e %etter than $nowing it. Turning artiall! aside# he "ingered the a ers on the des$ %e"ore which he was standing. A large envelo e# containing some legal document# la! %e"ore him. Ta$ing it u mechanicall!# he o ened it. Frederic$ as mechanicall! watched him. 'I $now#' said the latter# 'that I have no %etter "riend. You have %een too good# too indulgent. +hat is it# "ather- You change colour# loo$ ill# what is there in that a er-' .r. *utherland straightened himsel") there was a great reserve o" strength in this %ro$en&down man !et. Fi4ing Frederic$ with a ga7e more enetrating than an! he had !et %estowed u on him# he "olded his hands %ehind him with the document held tightl! %etween them# and remar$ed1

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'+hen !ou %orrowed that mone! "rom me !ou did it li$e a man who e4 ected to re a! it. +h!- +hence did !ou e4 ect to receive the mone! with which to re a! me- Answer# Frederic$) this is !our hour "or con"ession.' Frederic$ turned so ale his "ather dro ed his e!es in merc!. 'Con"ess-' he re eated. '+hat should I con"ess- .! sins- The! are too man!. As "or that mone!# I ho ed to return it as an! son might ho e to reim%urse his "ather "or mone! advanced to a! a gam%ler,s de%t. I said I meant to wor$. .! "irst mone! earned shall %e o""ered to !ou. I&&' '+ell- +ell-' His "ather was holding the document he had 3ust read# o ened out %e"ore his e!es. '/idn,t !ou e4 ect THI*-' he as$ed. '/idn,t !ou $now that that oor woman# that wretchedl! murdered# most unha ! woman# whose death the whole town mourns# had made !ou her heir- That %! the terms o" this document# seen %! me here and now "or the "irst time# I am made e4ecutor and !ou the inheritor o" the one hundred thousand dollars or more le"t %! Agatha +e%%-' 'No(' cried Frederic$# his e!es glued to the a er# his whole "ace and "orm e4 ressing something more a$in to terror than sur rise. 'Has she done this- +h! should she- I hardl! $new her.' 'No# !ou hardl! $new her. And she- *he hardl! $new !ou) i" she had she would have a%horred rather than enriched !ou. Frederic$# I had rather see !ou dead than stand %e"ore me the inheritor o" 5hilemon and Agatha +e%%,s hard&earned savings.' 'You are right) it would %e %etter#' murmured Frederic$# hardl! heeding what he said. Then# as he encountered his "ather,s e!e resting u on him with im laca%le scrutin!# he added# in wea$ re etition1 '+h! should she give her mone! to me- +hat was I to her that she should will me her "ortune-' The "ather,s "inger trem%led to a certain line in the document# which seemed to o""er some e4 lanation o" this) %ut Frederic$ did not "ollow it. He had seen that his "ather was e4 ecting a re l! to the 0uestion he had reviousl! ut# and he was casting a%out in his mind how to answer it. '+hen did !ou $now o" this will-' .r. *utherland now re eated. 'For $now o" it !ou did %e"ore !ou came to me "or mone!.' Frederic$ summoned u his "ull courage and con"ronted his "ather resolutel!. 'No#' said he# 'I did not $now o" it. It is as much o" a sur rise to me as it is to !ou.'

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He lied. .r. *utherland $new that he lied and Frederic$ $new that he $new it. A shadow "ell %etween them# which the older# with that uns ea$a%le "ear u on him roused %! *weetwater,s whis ered sus icions# dared no longer attem t to li"t. A"ter a "ew minutes in which Frederic$ seemed to see his "ather age %e"ore his e!es# .r. *utherland coldl! remar$ed1 '/r. Tal%ot must $now o" this will. It has %een sent here to me "rom 6oston %! a law!er who drew it u two !ears ago. The coroner ma! not as !et have heard o" it. +ill !ou accom an! me to his o""ice to&morrow- I should li$e to have him see that we wish to %e o en with him in an a""air o" such im ortance.' 'I will accom an! !ou gladl!#' said Frederic$# and seeing that his "ather neither wished nor was a%le to sa! an!thing "urther# he %owed with distant ceremon! as to a stranger and 0uietl! withdrew. 6ut when the door had closed %etween them and onl! the memor! o" his "ather,s changed countenance remained to trou%le him# he aused and laid his hand again on the $no%# as i" tem ted to return. 6ut he le"t without doing so# onl! to turn again at the end o" the hall and ga7e wist"ull! %ac$. Yet he went on. As he o ened his own door and disa eared within# he said hal" audi%l!1 'Eas! to destro! me now# Ama%el. One word and I am lost('

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6oo$ II. The .an O" No Re utation

CCI. *+EET+ATER REA*ON* And what o" *weetwater# in whose thoughts and actions the interest now centres+hen he le"t .r. *utherland it was with "eelings such as "ew who $new him su osed him ca a%le o" e4 eriencing. >nattractive as he was in ever! wa!# ungainl! in "igure and un re ossessing o" countenance# this %utt o" the more "avoured !outh in town had a heart whose secret "ires were all the warmer "or %eing so ersistentl! covered# and this heart was wrung with trou%le and heav! with a struggle that %ade "air to leave him without rest that night# i" not "or man! nights to come. +h!- One word will e4 lain. >n$nown to the world at large and almost un$nown to himsel"# his %est a""ections were "i4ed u on the man whose ha iness he thus une4 ectedl! saw himsel" destined to destro!. He loved .r. *utherland. The sus icion which he now "ound trans"erred in his own mind "rom the !oung girl whose %lood&stained sli ers he had urloined during the e4citement o" the "irst alarm# to the un rinci led %ut onl! son o" his one %ene"actor# had not %een lightl! em%raced or thoughtlessl! e4 ressed. He had had time to thin$ it out in all its %earings. /uring that long wal$ "rom 5ortchester church!ard to .r. Hallida!,s door# he had %een turning over in his mind ever!thing that he had heard and seen in connection with this matter# till the dim vision o" Frederic$,s "igure going on %e"ore him was not more a arent to his sight than was the guilt he so de lored to his inward understanding. He could not hel %ut recognise him as the active art! in the crime he had hitherto charged Ama%el with. +ith the clew o""ered %! Frederic$,s secret anguish at the grave o" Agatha# he could read the whole stor! o" this detesta%le crime as lainl! as i" it had %een written in letters o" "ire on the circle o" the surrounding dar$ness. *uch anguish under such circumstances on the art o" such a man could mean %ut one thing&&remorse) and remorse in the %reast o" one so rover%iall! careless and corru t# over the death o" a woman who was neither relative nor "riend# could have %ut one inter retation# and that was guilt. No other e4 lanation was ossi%le. Could one %e given# or i" an! evidence could %e adduced in contradiction o" this assum tion# he would have

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dismissed his new sus icion with more heartiness even than he had em%raced his "ormer one. He did not wish to %elieve Frederic$ guilt!. He would have urchased an inner conviction o" his innocence almost at the rice o" his own li"e# not %ecause o" an! latent interest in the !oung man himsel"# %ut %ecause he was Charles *utherland,s son# and the dear# i" unworth!# centre o" all that no%le man,s ho es# aims# and ha iness. 6ut he could come u on no "act ca a%le o" sha$ing his resent %elie". Ta$ing "or truth Ama%el,s account o" what she had seen and done on that "atal night&&something which he had hesitated over the revious da!# %ut which he now "ound himsel" "orced to acce t or do violence to his own secret convictions&&and adding to it such "acts as had come to his own $nowledge in his sel"&im osed role o" detective# he had %ut to test the events o" that night %! his resent theor! o" Frederic$,s guilt# to "ind them hang together in a wa! too com lete "or mista$e. For what had %een his reasons "or charging Ama%el hersel" with the guilt o" a crime she onl! ro"essed to have %een a artial witness toThe! were man!. First&&The "orced nature o" her e4 lanations in regard to her motive "or leaving a merr! %all and %eta$ing hersel" to the midnight road in her art! dress and sli ers. A woman o" her well&$nown uns!m athetic nature might use the miser! o" the <a%els as a rete4t "or sli ing into town at night# %ut never would %e in"luenced %! it as a motive. *econd&&The e0uall! unsatis"actor! nature o" the reasons she gave "or leaving the course she had mar$ed out "or hersel" and entering u on the ursuit o" an un$nown man into a house in which she had no ersonal interest and "rom which she had 3ust seen a %lood! dagger thrown out. The most callous o" women would have shrun$ "rom letting her curiosit! carr! her thus "ar. Third&&The overt! o" her lea that# a"ter having %raved so much in her desire to identi"! this criminal# she was so "rightened at his near a roach as to "ail to li"t her head when the o ortunit! was given her to recognise him. Fourth&&Her ro"essed ina%ilit! to account "or the resence o" the orchid "rom her hair %eing "ound in the room with 6ats!. Fi"th&&Her evident attem t to throw the onus o" the crime on an old man mani"estl! inca a%le "rom h!sical causes o" committing it. *i4th&&The im ro%a%ilit!# which she hersel" should have recognised# o" this old man# in his e4tremel! wea$ condition# ignoring the hiding& laces o""ered %! the woods %ac$ o" his own house# "or the sa$e o" one not onl! involving a

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long wal$# %ut situated close to a much&"re0uented road# and almost in view o" the *utherland mansion. *eventh&&The trans arent e4cuse o" s!m ath! "or the old man and her desire to save him "rom the conse0uences o" his crime# which she o""ered in e4tenuation o" her own criminal avowal o" having "irst "ound and then re%uried the ill&gotten gains she had come u on in her ersistent ursuit o" the "l!ing criminal. *o im ulsive an act might %e consistent with the %lind com assion o" some wea$&headed %ut warm& hearted woman# %ut not with her sel"& interested nature# inca a%le o" er"orming an! heroic deed save "rom ersonal motives or the most headlong assion. Lastl!&&The wea$ness o" her e4 lanation in regard to the cause which led her to eer into the <a%el cottage through a hole made in the window&shade. Curiosit! has its limits even in a woman,s %reast# and unless she ho ed to see more than was indicated %! her words# her action was %ut the recursor o" a ersonal entrance into a room where we have ever! reason to %elieve the twent!& dollar %ill was le"t. A telling record and su""icient to "avour the theor! o" her ersonal guilt i"# a"ter due thought# certain "acts in contradiction to this assum tion had not o""ered themselves to his mind even %e"ore he thought o" Frederic$ as the un$nown man she had "ollowed down the hillside# as# "or instance1 This crime# i" committed %! her# was done deli%eratel! and with a remeditation antedating her de arture "rom the %allroom. Yet she went u on this errand in sli ers# white sli ers at that# something which so cool and calculating a woman would have avoided# however careless she might have shown hersel" in other regards. Again# guilt awa$ens cunning# even in the dullest %reast) %ut she# $een %e!ond most men even# and so sel"& oised that the most searching e4amination could not sha$e her sel"&control# %etra!ed an utter carelessness as to what she did with these sli ers on her return# thrusting them into a lace easil! accessi%le to the most casual search. Had she %een conscious o" guilt and thus amena%le to law# the sight o" %lood and mud&stains on those sli ers would have a alled her# and she would have made some attem t to destro! them# and not ut them %ehind a icture and "orgotten them. Again# would she have %een so careless with a "lower she $new to %e identi"ied with hersel"- A woman who deli%eratel! involves hersel" in crime has 0uic$ e!es) she would have seen that "lower "all. At all events# i" she had %een immediatel! res onsi%le "or its %eing on the scene o" crime she would# with her 0uic$ wit# have "ound some e4cuse or e4 lanation "or it# instead o" de"!ing her e4aminers with some such words as these1 'It is a "act "or !ou to e4 lain. I onl! $now that I did not carr! this "lower into that room o" death.'

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Again# had she %een actuated in her attem t to "i4 the crime on old 8ames <a%el %! a ersonal consciousness o" guilt and a ersonal dread# she would not have sto ed at suggestion in her allusions to the erson she watched %ur!ing the treasure in the woods. Instead o" s ea$ing o" him as a shadow whose "light she had "ollowed at a distance# she would have descri%ed his "igure as that o" the same old man she had seen enter the <a%el cottage a "ew minutes %e"ore# there %eing no reason "or inde"initeness on this oint# her conscience %eing su""icientl! elastic "or an! "alsehood that would "urther her ends. And lastl!# her manner# under the e4amination to which she had %een su%3ected# was not that o" one who "elt hersel" under a ersonal attac$. It was a strange# suggestive# hesitating manner# %a""ling ali$e to him who had more or less sounded her strange nature and to those who had no revious $nowledge o" her "rea$s and su%tle intellectual ower# and onl! reaching its height o" hate"ul charm and m!sterious daring when Frederic$ a eared on the scene and 3oined# or seemed to 3oin# himsel" to the num%er o" her e4aminers. Now# let all sus icion o" her as an active agent in this crime %e dro ed# assume Frederic$ to %e the cul rit and she the sim le accessor! a"ter the "act# and see how inconsistencies vanish# and how much more natural the whole conduct o" this m!sterious woman a ears. Ama%el 5age le"t a merr! dance at midnight and stole awa! into the *utherland garden in her art! dress and sli ers&&wh!- Not to "ul"il an errand which an!one who $nows her cold and uns!m athetic nature can %ut regard as a rete4t# %ut %ecause she "elt it im erative to see i" her lover :with whose character# tem tations# and necessities she was "ull! ac0uainted# and in whose e4cited and reoccu ied manner she had ro%a%l! discovered signs o" a secretl! growing ur ose; meant indeed to elude his guests and sli awa! to town on the dangerous and unhol! enter rise suggested %! their mutual $nowledge o" the mone! to %e o%tained there %! one daring enough to enter a certain house o en li$e their own to midnight visitors. *he "ollowed at such an hour and into such a lace# not an un$nown man casuall! come u on# %ut her lover# whom she had trac$ed "rom the garden o" his "ather,s house# where she had lain in wait "or him. It too$ courage to do this# %ut a courage no longer %e!ond the limit o" "eminine daring# "or her "ate was %ound u in his and she could not %ut "eel the im ulse to save him "rom the conse0uences o" crime# i" not "rom the crime itsel". As "or the a"orementioned "lower# what more natural than that Frederic$ should have trans"erred it "rom her hair to his %uttonhole during some o" their interviews at the %all# and that it should have "allen "rom its lace to the "loor in the midst o" his ossi%le struggle with 6ats!-

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And with this assum tion o" her er"ect $nowledge as to who the man was who had entered .rs. +e%%,s house# how much easier it is to understand wh! she did not li"t her head when she heard him descend the stairs( No woman# even one so de raved as she# would wish to see the handsome "ace o" her lover in the glare o" a "reshl! committed crime# and %esides she might ver! easil! %e a"raid o" him# "or a man has %ut a %low "or the suddenl! detected witness o" his crime unless that witness is his con"idant# which "rom ever! indication *weetwater "elt %ound to %elieve Ama%el was not. Her "light to the <a%el cottage# a"ter an e4 erience which would madden most women# can now %e understood. *he was still "ollowing her lover. The lan o" ma$ing Agatha,s old and wretched "riend amena%le "or her death originated with Frederic$ and not with Ama%el. It was he who "irst started "or the <a%el cottage. It was he who le"t the %an$ %ill there. This is all clear# and even the one contradictor! "act o" the dagger having %een seen in the old man,s hand was not a stum%ling&%loc$ to *weetwater. +ith the audacit! o" one con"ident o" his own insight# he e4 lained it to himsel" thus1 The dagger thrown "rom the window %! the assassin# ossi%l! %ecause he $new o" <a%el,s e4 ected visit there that night# "ell on the grass and was ic$ed u %! Ama%el# onl! to %e "lung down again in the %rightest art o" the lawn. It was l!ing there then# when# a "ew minutes later and %e"ore either Frederic$ or Ama%el had le"t the house# the old man entered the !ard in a state o" miser! %ordering on "ren7!. He and his %rother were starving# had %een starving "or da!s. He was too roud to own his want# and too lo!al to his %rother to leave him "or the sa$e o" the "ood re ared "or them %oth at Agatha,s house# and this was wh! he had hesitated over his dut! till this late hour# when his own secret miser! or# erha s# the ho e o" relieving his %rother drove him to enter the gate he had %een accustomed to see o en %e"ore him in glad hos italit!. He "inds the lights %urning in the house a%ove and %elow# and encouraged %! the welcome the! seem to hold out# he staggers u the ath# ignorant o" the traged! which was at that ver! moment %eing enacted %ehind those lighted windows. 6ut hal"&wa! toward the house he sto s# the courage which has %rought him so "ar suddenl! "ails# and in one o" those 0uic$ visions which sometimes visit men in e4tremit!# he "oresees the astonishment which his emaciated "igure is li$el! to cause in these two old "riends# and %ur!ing his "ace in his hands he sto s and %itterl! communes with himsel" %e"ore venturing "arther. Fatal sto ( "atal communing( "or as he stands there he sees a dagger# his own old dagger# how lost or how "ound he ro%a%l! did not sto to as$# l!ing on the grass and o""ering in its dum% wa! suggestions as to how he might end this struggle without an! "urther su""ering. /i77! with the new ho e# re"erring death to the humiliation he saw %e"ore him in Agatha,s cottage# he dashes out o" the !ard# almost u setting .r. Crane# who was assing %! on his homeward wa! "rom an errand o" merc!. A little while later Ama%el comes u on him l!ing across his own doorste . He has made an e""ort to enter# %ut his long wal$ and the e4citement o" this last %itter hour have %een too much "or him. As she watches him he gains strength and

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struggles to his "eet# while she# aghast at the sight o" the dagger she had hersel" "lung down in Agatha,s !ard# and dreading the encounter %etween this old man and the lover she had %een "ollowing to this lace# cree s around the house and loo$s into the "irst window she "inds o en. +hat does she e4 ect to see- Frederic$ %rought "ace to "ace with this des erate "igure with its u li"ted $ni"e. 6ut instead o" that she %eholds another old man seated at a ta%le and&&Ama%el had aused when she reached that AN/&&and *weetwater had not then seen how im ortant this ause was# %ut now he understood it. Now he saw that i" she had not had a su%tle ur ose in view# that i" she had wished to tell the truth rather than roduce "alse in"erences in the minds o" those a%out her calculated to save the criminal as she called him# she would have com leted her sentence thus1 'I saw an old man seated at a ta%le and Frederic$ *utherland standing over him.' For *weetwater had no longer a dou%t that Frederic$ was in that room at that moment. +hat "urther she saw# whether she was witness to an encounter %etween this intruder and 8ames# or whether %! some lingering on the latter,s art Frederic$ was a%le to leave the house without running across him# was a matter o" com arative unim ortance. +hat is o" im ortance is that he did leave it and that Ama%el# $nowing it was Frederic$# strove to ma$e her auditors %elieve it was <a%el# who carried the remainder o" the mone! into the woods. Yet she did not sa! so# and i" her words on this su%3ect could %e care"ull! recalled# one would see that it was still her lover she was "ollowing and no old man# tottering on the verge o" the grave and onl! surviving %ecause o" the tas$ he was %ent on er"orming. Ama%el,s e4cuse "or handling the treasure# and "or her re%urial o" the same# comes now within the %ounds o" ossi%ilit!. *he ho ed to share this mone! some da!# and her greed was too great "or her to let such an amount lie there untouched# while her caution led her to %ur! it dee er# even at the ris$ o" the discover! she was too ine4 erienced to "ear. That she should "orget to "eign sur rise when the alarm o" murder was raised was ver! natural# and so was the "act that a woman with a soul so %lunted to all delicate instincts# and with a mind so intent u on er"ecting the scheme entered into %! the murderer o" throwing the %lame u on the man whose dagger had %een made use o"# should ersist in visiting the scene o" crime and calling attention to the s ot where that dagger had "allen. And so with her manner %e"ore her e4aminers. 6a""ling as that manner was# it still showed strea$s o" consistenc!# when !ou thought o" it as the cloa$ o" a su%tle# un rinci led woman# who sees amongst her interlocutors the guilt! man whom %! a word she can destro!# %ut whom she e4erts hersel" to save# even at the cost o" a series o" %i7arre e4 lanations. *he was la!ing with a li"e# a li"e she loved# %ut not with sincerit! su""icient to ro% the game o" a certain delicate# i" inconceiva%le# intellectual en3o!ment. GFootnote1 That *weetwater in his hate# and with no real clew to the real situation# should come so near the truth as in this last su osition# shows the $eenness o" his insight.H

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And Frederic$- Had there %een an!thing in his "ormer li"e or in his conduct since the murder to give the lie to these heav! dou%ts against him- On the contrar!. Though *weetwater $new little o" the dar$ record which had made this !oung man the disgrace o" his "amil!# what he did $now was so much against him that he could well see that the distance usuall! e4isting %etween sim le dissi ation and des erate crime might %e easil! %ridged %! some great necessit! "or mone!. Had there %een such a necessit!- *weetwater "ound it eas! to %elieve so. And Frederic$,s manner+as it that o" an honest man sim l! shoc$ed %! the sus icions which had "allen u on the woman he loved- Had he# *weetwater# not o%served certain telltale moments in his late %ehaviour that re0uired a dee er e4 lanation even than thisThe cr!# "or instance# with which he had rushed "rom the em t! %allroom into the woods on the o osite side o" the road( +as it a natural cr! or an easil! e4 laina%le one- 'Than$ 2od( this terri%le night is over(' *trange language to %e uttered %! this man at such a time and in such a lace# i" he did not alread! $now what was to ma$e this night o" nights memora%le through all this region. He did $now# and this cr! which had struc$ *weetwater strangel! at the time and still more strangel! when he regarded it sim l! as a coincidence# now too$ on all the "orce o" a revelation and the irresisti%le %u%%ling u in Frederic$,s %reast o" that remorse which had 3ust "ound its "ull e4 ression on Agatha,s grave. To some that remorse and all his other signs o" su""ering might %e e4 lained %! his assion "or the real criminal. 6ut to *weetwater it was onl! too evident that an egotist li$e Frederic$ *utherland cannot su""er "or another to such an e4tent as this# and that a ersonal e4 lanation must %e given "or so ersonal a grie"# even i" that e4 lanation involves the dread"ul charge o" murder. It was when *weetwater reached this oint in his reasoning that Frederic$ disa eared %eneath .r. Hallida!,s orch# and .r. *utherland came u %ehind him. A"ter the short conversation in which *weetwater saw his own dou%ts more than re"lected in the uneas! consciousness o" this stric$en "ather# he went home and the struggle o" his li"e %egan. CCII. *+EET+ATER ACT* *weetwater had romised .r. *utherland that he would $ee counsel in regard to his resent convictions concerning Frederic$,s guilt) %ut this he $new he could not do i" he remained in *utherlandtown and "ell under the itiless e4amination o" .r. Courtne!# the shrewd and a%le rosecuting attorne! o" the district. He was too !oung# too honest# and had made himsel" too cons icuous in this a""air to succeed in an underta$ing re0uiring so much dissimulation# i" not actual "alsehood. Indeed# he was not sure that in his resent state o" mind he could hear Frederic$,s name mentioned without "lushing# and slight as such a hint might %e# it would %e enough to direct

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attention to Frederic$# which once done could %ut lead to discover! and ermanent disgrace to all who %ore the name o" *utherland. +hat was he to do then- How avoid a conse0uence he "ound himsel" a%solutel! una%le to "ace- It was a ro%lem which this night must solve "or him. 6ut how- As I have said# he went down to his house to thin$. *weetwater was not a man o" a%solute rectitude. He was not so much high&minded as large&hearted. He had# %esides# certain "oi%les. In the "irst lace# he was vain# and vanit! in a ver! lain man is all the more acute since it centres in his ca a%ilities# rather than in his a earance. Had *weetwater %een handsome# or even assa%l! attractive# he might have %een satis"ied with the a ro%ation o" demure maidens and a comradeshi with his "ellows. 6ut %eing one who could ho e "or nothing o" this $ind# not even "or a decent return to the unreasoning heart&worshi he "elt himsel" ca a%le o" a!ing# and which he had once aid "or a "ew short da!s till warned o" his resum tion %! the insolence o" the reci ient# he had "i4ed his ho e and his am%ition on doing something which would rouse the admiration o" those a%out him and %ring him into that rominence to which he "elt himsel" entitled. That he# a s$il"ul musician# should desire to %e $nown as a %rilliant detective# is onl! one o" the anomalies o" human nature which it would %e "oll! and a waste o" time on our art to endeavour to e4 lain. That# having chosen to e4ercise his wits in this wa!# he should so well succeed that he dared not "or his li"e continue in the wor$ he had so u%licl! underta$en# occasioned in him a ang o" disa ointment almost as insu""era%le as that %rought %! the realisation o" what his e""orts were li$el! to %ring u on the man to whose %enevolence he owed his ver! li"e. Hence his struggle# which must %e measured %! the e4tent o" his desires and the limitations which had %een set to his nature %! his surroundings and the circumstances o" his li"e and dail! histor!. I" we enter with him into the hum%le cottage where he was %orn and "rom which he had hardl! stra!ed more than a do7en miles in the twent!&two !ears o" his circumscri%ed li"e# we ma! %e a%le to understand him %etter. It was an un ainted house erched on an arid hillside# with nothing %e"ore it %ut the limitless sea. He had "ound his wa! to it mechanicall!# %ut as he a roached the narrow doorwa! he aused and turned his "ace towards the stretch o" heaving waters# whose low or loud %ooming had %een "irst his cradle song and then the ceaseless accom animent o" his later thoughts and as irations. It was heaving !et# ceaselessl! heaving# and in its loud com laint there was a sound o" moaning not alwa!s to %e "ound there# or so it seemed to *weetwater in his resent trou%led mood. *ighing as this sound reached his ear# and shuddering as its meaning touched his heart# *weetwater ushed o en the door o" his small house# and entered.

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'It is I# mamsie(' he shouted# in what he meant to %e his usual voice) %ut to a sensitive ear&&and what ear is so sensitive as a mother,s-&&there was a trem%le in it that was not wholl! natural. 'Is an!thing the matter# dear-' called out that mother# in re l!. The 0uestion made him start# though he re lied 0uic$l! enough# and in more guarded tones1 'No# mamsie. 2o to slee . I,m tired# that,s all.' +ould to 2od that was all( He recalled with env! the da!s when he dragged himsel" into the house at sundown# a"ter twelve long hours o" wor$ on the doc$s. As he aused in the dar$ hallwa! and listened till he heard the %reathing o" her who had called him /EAR&&the onl! one in the world who ever had or ever would call him /EAR&&he had glim ses o" that old sel" which made him 0uestion i" his sel"&tutoring on the violin# and the restless am%ition which had driven him out o" the wa!s o" his ancestors into strange attem ts "or which he was not re ared %! an! revious disci line# had %rought him ha iness or im roved his manhood. He was "orced to ac$nowledge that the slee o" those "ar&distant nights o" his %us! %o!hood was sweeter than the wa$e"ulness o" these later da!s# and that it would have %een %etter "or him# and in"initel! %etter "or her# i" he had remained at the car enter,s %ench and %een satis"ied with a re etition o" his "ather,s e4istence. His mother was the onl! erson sharing that small house with him# and once assured that she was aslee # he lighted a lam in the em t! $itchen and sat down. It was 3ust twelve o,cloc$. This# to an!one accustomed to this eculiar !oung man,s ha%its# had nothing unusual in it. He was accustomed to come home late and sit thus %! himsel" "or a short time %e"ore going u &stairs. 6ut# to one ca a%le o" reading his shar and none too mo%ile countenance# there was a change in the character o" the %rooding into which he now san$# which# had that mother %een awa$e to watch him# would have made ever! turn o" his e!e and movement o" his hand interesting and im ortant. In the "irst lace# the careless attitude into which he had "allen was totall! at variance with the restless glance which too$ in ever! o%3ect in that well&$nown room so associated with his mother and her dail! wor$ that he could not imagine her in an! other surroundings# and wondered sometimes i" she would seem an! longer his mother i" trans lanted to other scenes and engaged in other tas$s. Little things# ett! o%3ects o" household use or ornament# which he had seen all his li"e without s eciall! noticing them# seemed under the stress o" his

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resent mood to ac0uire a sudden im ortance and "i4 themselves indeli%l! in his memor!. There# on a nail driven long %e"ore he was %orn# hung the little round lid& holder he had ieced together in his earliest !ears and resented to his mother in a gush o" ride greater than an! he had since e4 erienced. *he had never used it# %ut it alwa!s hung u on the one nail in the one lace# as a s!m%ol o" his love and o" hers. And there# higher u on the end o" the shel" %arren enough o" ornaments# 2od wot# were a %ro$en to! and a much&de"aced rimer# mementos li$ewise o" his childhood) and "arther along the wall# on a sort o" raised %ench# a $eg# the s igot o" which he was once guilt! o" turning on in his in"antile longing "or sweets# onl! to "ind he could not turn it %ac$ again until all the "loor was covered with molasses# and his a etite "or the "or%idden grati"ied to the "ull. And !onder# dangling "rom a eg# never devoted to an! other use# hung his "ather,s old hat# 3ust where he had laced it on the "atal morning when he came in and la! down on the sitting&room lounge "or the last time) and close to it# lovingl! close to it# *weetwater thought# his mother,s a ron# the a ron he had seen her wear at su er# and which he would see her wear at %rea$"ast# with all its suggestions o" ceaseless wor$ and atient ever!&da! thri"t. *omehow# he could not %ear the sight o" that a ron. +ith the e4 ectation now "orming in his mind# o" leaving this home and leaving this mother# this s!m%ol o" hum%le toil %ecame an intolera%le grie" to him. 8um ing u # he turned in another direction) %ut now another grou o" o%3ects e0uall! elo0uent came under his e!e. It was his mother,s wor$&%as$et he saw# with a iece o" sewing in it intended "or him# and as i" this were not enough# the ta%le set "or two# and at his lace a little covered dish which held the one sweetmeat he craved "or %rea$"ast. The s ectacles l!ing %eside her late told him how old she was# and as he thought o" her "ailing strength and en"ee%led wa!s# he 3um ed u again and sought another corner. 6ut here his glances "ell on his violin# and a new series o" emotions awa$ened within him. He loved the instrument and la!ed as much "rom natural intuition as ac0uired $nowledge# %ut in the lan o" action he had laid out "or himsel" his violin could have no art. He would have to leave it %ehind. Feeling that his regrets were "ast %ecoming too much "or him# he le"t the hum%le $itchen and went u &stairs. 6ut not to slee . Loc$ing the door :something he never remem%ered doing %e"ore in all his li"e;# he %egan to handle over his clothes and other trivial %elongings. Choosing out a certain strong suit# he laid it out on the %ed and then went to a %ureau drawer and drew out an old&"ashioned wallet. This he o ened# %ut a"ter he had counted the "ew %ills it contained he shoo$ his head and ut them all %ac$# onl! retaining a little silver# which he sli ed into one o" the oc$ets o" the suit he had chosen. Then he searched "or and "ound a little 6i%le which his mother had once given him. He was a%out to thrust that into another oc$et# %ut he seemed to thin$ %etter o" this# too# "or he ended %! utting it %ac$ into the drawer and ta$ing instead a %it "rom one o" his mother,s old a rons which he had chanced u on on the stairwa!. This he

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laced as care"ull! in his watch oc$et as i" it had %een the icture o" a girl he loved. Then he undressed and went to %ed. .rs. *weetwater said a"terwards that she never $new Cale% to tal$ so much and eat so little as he did that ne4t morning at %rea$"ast. *uch lans as he detailed "or unmas$ing the murderer o" .rs. +e%%( *uch %usiness "or the da!( *o man! eo le to see( It made her 0uite di77!# she said. And# indeed# *weetwater was more than usuall! volu%le that morning#&& erha s %ecause he could not %ear his mother,s satis"ied smile) and when he went out o" the house it was with a laugh and a cheer! '2ood&%!e# mamsie' that was in s i$ing contrast to the irre ressi%le e4clamation o" grie" which esca ed him when the door was closed %etween them. Ah# when should he enter those "our walls again# and when should he see the old motherHe roceeded immediatel! to town. A shi was re aring to sail that morning "or the 6ra7ils# and the wharves were alive with %ustle. He sto ed a moment to contem late the great hul$ rising and "alling at her moorings# then he assed on and entered the %uilding where he had ever! reason to e4 ect to "ind /r. Tal%ot and 9na in discussion. It was ver! im ortant to him that morning to learn 3ust how the! "elt concerning the great matter a%sor%ing him# "or i" sus icion was ta$ing the direction o" Frederic$# or i" he saw it was at all li$el! to do so# then would his struggle %e cut short and all necessit! "or leaving town %e at an end. It was to save Frederic$ "rom this danger that he was re ared to cut all the ties %inding him to this lace# and nothing short o" the ros ect o" accom lishing this would ma$e him willing to undergo such a sacri"ice. '+ell# *weetwater# an! news# eh-' was the hal"&3eering# hal"& condescending greeting he received "rom the coroner. *weetwater# who had regained entire control over his "eelings as soon as he "ound himsel" under the e!e o" this man and the su ercilious detective he had attem ted to rival# gave a careless shrug and assed the 0uestion on to 9na . 'Have !ou an! news-' he as$ed. 9na # who would ro%a%l! not have ac$nowledged it i" he had# smiled the indulgent smile o" a sel"&satis"ied su erior and uttered a "ew e0uivocal sentences. This was gall and wormwood to *weetwater# %ut he $e t his tem er admira%l! and# with an air o" %ravado entirel! assumed "or the occasion# said to /r. Tal%ot1 'I thin$ I shall have something to tell !ou soon which will materiall! aid !ou in !our search "or witnesses. 6! to&morrow# at least# I shall $now whether I am right or wrong in thin$ing I have discovered an im ortant witness in 0uite an une4 ected 0uarter.'

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*weetwater $new o" no new witness# %ut it was necessar! "or him not onl! to have a rete4t "or the move he contem lated# %ut to so im ress these men with an idea o" his e4treme interest in the a roaching roceedings# that no sus icion should ever arise o" his having remeditated an esca e "rom them. He wished to a ear the victim o" accident) and this is wh! he too$ nothing "rom his home which would %etra! an! intention o" leaving it. 'Ha( indeed(' e3aculated the coroner with growing interest. 'And ma! I as$&&&&' '5lease#' urged *weetwater# with a side loo$ at 9na # 'do not as$ me an!thing 3ust !et. This a"ternoon# sa!# a"ter I have had a certain interview with&&+hat# are the! setting sails on the Hes er alread!-' he %urst out# with a 0uic$ glance "rom the window at the great shi riding at anchor a little distance "rom them in the har%our. 'There is a man on her I must see. E4cuse me&&Oh# .r. *utherland(' He "ell %ac$ in con"usion. That gentleman had 3ust entered the room in com an! with Frederic$. CCIII. A *INI*TER 5AIR 'I %eg !our ardon#' stammered *weetwater# starting aside and losing on the instant all "urther dis osition to leave the room. Indeed# he had not the courage to do so# even i" he had had the will. The 3oint a earance o" these two men in this lace# and at an hour so "ar in advance o" that which usuall! saw .r. *utherland enter the town# was "ar too signi"icant in his e!es "or him to ignore it. Had an! e4 lanation ta$en lace %etween them# and had .r. *utherland,s integrit! trium hed over ersonal considerations to the oint o" his %ringing Frederic$ here to con"ess.eanwhile /r. Tal%ot had risen with a "ull and heart! greeting which roved to *weetwater,s uneas! mind that notwithstanding 9na ,s dis0uieting reticence no direct sus icion had as !et "allen on the unha ! Frederic$. Then he waited "or what .r. *utherland had to sa!# "or it was evident he had come there to sa! something. *weetwater waited# too# "ro7en almost into immo%ilit! %! the "ear that it would %e something in3udicious# "or never had he seen an! man so changed as .r. *utherland in these last twelve hours# nor did it need a highl! enetrating e!e to detect that the relations %etween him and Frederic$ were strained to a oint that made it almost im ossi%le "or them to more than assume their old con"idential attitude. 9na # $nowing them %ut su er"iciall!# did not erceive this# %ut /r. Tal%ot was not %lind to it# as was shown %! the in0uiring loo$ he directed towards them %oth while waiting. .r. *utherland s o$e at last.

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'5ardon me "or interru ting !ou so earl!#' said he# with a certain trem%le in his voice which *weetwater 0ua$ed to hear. 'For certain reasons# I should %e ver! glad to $now# +E should %e ver! glad to $now# i" during !our investigations into the cause and manner o" Agatha +e%%,s death# !ou have come u on a co ! o" her will.' 'No.' Tal%ot was at once interested# so was 9na # while *weetwater withdrew "urther into his corner in an4ious endeavour to hide his %lanching chee$. '+e have "ound nothing. +e do not even $now that she has made a will.' 'I as$#' ursued .r. *utherland# with a slight glance toward Frederic$# who seemed# at least in *weetwater,s 3udgment# to have %raced himsel" u to %ear this interview unmoved# '%ecause I have not onl! received intimation that she made such a will# %ut have even %een entrusted with a co ! o" it as chie" e4ecutor o" the same. It came to me in a letter "rom 6oston !esterda!. Its contents were a sur rise to me. Frederic$# hand me a chair. These accumulated mis"ortunes&&"or we all su""er under the a""lictions which have %eset this town&&have made me "eel m! !ears.' *weetwater drew his %reath more "reel!. He thought he might understand %! this last sentence that .r. *utherland had come here "or a di""erent cause than he had at "irst "eared. Frederic$# on the contrar!# %etra!ed a "ailing a%ilit! to hide his emotion. He %rought his "ather a chair# laced it# and was drawing %ac$ out o" sight when .r. *utherland revented him %! a mild command to hand the a er he had %rought to the coroner. There was something in his manner that made *weetwater lean "orward and Frederic$ loo$ u # so that the "ather,s and son,s e!es met under that !oung man,s scrutin!. 6ut while he saw meaning in %oth their regards# there was nothing li$e collusion# and# %a""led %! these a earances# which# while interesting# told him little or nothing# he trans"erred his attention to /r. Tal%ot and 9na # who had drawn together to see what this a er contained. 'As I have said# the contents o" this will are a sur rise to me#' "altered .r. *utherland. 'The! are e0uall! so to m! son. He can hardl! %e said to have %een a "riend even o" the e4traordinar! woman who thus leaves him her whole "ortune.' 'I never s o$e with her %ut twice#' e4claimed Frederic$ with a studied coldness# which was so evidentl! the cloa$ o" inner agitation that *weetwater trem%led "or its e""ect# notwithstanding the state o" his own thoughts# which were in a "erment. Frederic$# the inheritor o" Agatha +e%%,s "ortune( Frederic$# concerning whom his "ather had said on the revious night that he ossessed no motive "or wishing this good woman,s death( +as it the

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discover! that such a motive e4isted which had so aged this man in the last twelve hours- *weetwater dared not turn again to see. His own "ace might conve! too much o" his own "ears# dou%ts# and struggle. 6ut the coroner# "or whose ne4t words *weetwater listened with acute e4 ectanc!# seemed to %e moved sim l! %! the une4 ectedness o" the occurrence. 2lancing at Frederic$ with more interest than he had ever %e"ore shown him# he cried with a certain show o" enthusiasm1 'A rett! "ortune( A ver! rett! "ortune(' Then with a de recator! air natural to him in addressing .r. *utherland# '+ould it %e indiscreet "or me to as$ to what our dear "riend Agatha alludes in her re"erence to !our late lamented wi"e-' His "inger was on a clause o" the will and his li s ne4t minute mechanicall! re eated what he was ointing at1 ',In remem%rance o" services rendered me in earl! li"e %! .arietta *utherland# wi"e o" Charles *utherland o" *utherlandtown# I %e0ueath to Frederic$# sole child o" her a""ection# all the ro ert!# real and ersonal# o" which I die ossessed., *ervices rendered( The! must have %een ver! im ortant ones#' suggested /r. Tal%ot. .r. *utherland,s e4 ression was one o" entire er le4it! and dou%t. 'I do not remem%er m! wi"e ever s ea$ing o" an! s ecial act o" $indness she was ena%led to show Agatha +e%%. The! were alwa!s "riends# %ut never intimate ones. However# Agatha could %e trusted to ma$e no mista$e. *he dou%tless $new to what she re"erred. .rs. *utherland was "ull! ca a%le o" doing an e4tremel! $ind act in secret.' For all his res ect "or the s ea$er# /r. Tal%ot did not seem 0uite satis"ied. He glanced at Frederic$ and "um%led the a er uneasil!. '5erha s !ou were ac0uainted with the reason "or this legac!&&this large legac!#' he em hasised. Frederic$# thus called u on# na!# "orced to s ea$# raised his head# and without erha s %estowing so much as a thought on the !oung man %ehind him who was inwardl! 0uivering in an4ious e4 ectanc! o" some %etra!al on his art which would reci itate disgrace and li"elong sorrow on all who %ore the name o" *utherland# met /r. Tal%ot,s in0uiring glance with a sim le earnestness sur rising to them all# and said1 '.! record is so much against me that I am not sur rised that !ou wonder at m! %eing le"t with .rs. +e%%,s "ortune. 5erha s she did not "ull! realise the lac$ o" estimation in which I am deservedl! held in this lace# or erha s# and this would %e much more li$e her# she ho ed that the res onsi%ilit! o" owing

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m! inde endence to so good and so un"ortunate a woman might ma$e a man o" me.' There was a manliness in Frederic$,s words and %earing that too$ them all %! sur rise. .r. *utherland,s de3ection visi%l! lightened# while *weetwater# conscious o" the more than vital interests hanging u on the im ression which might %e made %! this event u on the minds o" the men resent# turned slightl! so as to %ring their "aces into the line o" his vision. The result was a conviction that as !et no real sus icion o" Frederic$ had sei7ed u on either o" their minds. 9na ,s "ace was er"ectl! calm and almost indi""erent# while the good coroner# who saw this and ever! other circumstance connected with this a""air through the one medium o" his %elie" in Ama%el,s guilt# was surve!ing Frederic$ with something li$e s!m ath!. 'I "ear#' said he# 'that others were not as ignorant o" !our ros ective good "ortune as !ou were !oursel"#' at which Frederic$,s chee$ turned a dar$ red# though he said nothing# and *weetwater# with a sudden involuntar! gesture indicative o" resolve# ga7ed "or a moment %reathlessl! at the shi # and then with an une4 ected and highl! im etuous movement dashed "rom the room cr!ing loudl!1 'I,ve seen him( I,ve seen him( he,s 3ust going on %oard the shi . +ait "or me# /r. Tal%ot. I,ll %e %ac$ in "i"teen minutes with such a witness&&' Here the door slammed. 6ut the! could hear his hurr!ing "ootste s as he lunged down the stairs and rushed awa! "rom the %uilding. It was an une4 ected termination to an interview "ast %ecoming un%eara%le to the two *utherlands# %ut no one# not even the old gentleman himsel"# too$ in its "ull signi"icance. He was# however# more than agitated %! the occurrence and could hardl! revent himsel" "rom re eating aloud *weetwater,s "inal word# which a"ter their interview at .r. Hallida!,s gate# the night %e"ore# seemed to conve! to him at once a warning and a threat. To $ee himsel" "rom what he "eared might rove a sel"& %etra!al# he "altered out in ver! evident disma!1 '+hat is the matter- +hat has come over the lad-' 'Oh(' cried /r. Tal%ot# 'he,s %een watching that shi "or an hour. He is a"ter some man he has 3ust seen go a%oard her. *a!s he,s a new and im ortant witness in this case. 5erha s he is. *weetwater is no man,s "ool# "or all his small e!es and retreating chin. I" !ou want roo" o" it# wait till he comes %ac$. He,ll %e sure to have something to sa!.'

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.eanwhile the! had all ressed "orward to the window. Frederic$# who care"ull! $e t his "ace out o" his "ather,s view# %ent hal"& wa! over the sill in his an4iet! to watch the "l!ing "igure o" *weetwater# who was ma$ing straight "or the doc$# while 9na # roused at last# leaned over his shoulder and ointed to the sailors on the dec$# who were ulling in the last ro es# re arator! to sailing. 'He,s too late1 the! won,t let him a%oard now. +hat a "ool to hang around here till he saw his man# instead o" %eing at the doc$ to na% him( That comes o" trusting a countr! %um $in. I $new he,d "ail us at the inch. The! lac$ training# these would&%e detectives. *ee# now( He,s run u against the mate# and the mate ushes him %ac$. His ca$e is all dough# unless he,s got a warrant. Has he a warrant# /r. Tal%ot-' 'No#' said the coroner# 'he didn,t as$ "or one. He didn,t even tell me whom he wanted. Can it %e one o" those two assengers !ou see on the "orward dec$# there-' It might well %e. Even "rom a distance these two men resented a sinister a earance that made them 0uite mar$ed "igures among the crowd o" hurr!ing sailors and %elated assengers. 'One o" them is eering over the rail with a ver! evident air o" an4iet!. His e!e is on *weetwater# who is dancing with im atience. *ee# he is gesticulating li$e a mon$e!# and&&6! the owers# the! are going to let him go a%oard(' .r. *utherland# who had %een leaning heavil! against the window& 3am% in the agitation o" dou%t and sus ense which *weetwater,s unaccounta%le conduct had evo$ed# here crossed to the other side and stole a determined loo$ at Frederic$. +as his son ersonall! interested in this attem t o" the amateur detective- /id he $now whom *weetwater sought# and was he su""ering as much or more than himsel" "rom the uncertaint! and "ear"ul ossi%ilities o" the moment- He thought he $new Frederic$,s "ace# and that he read dread there# %ut Frederic$ had changed so com letel! since the commission o" this crime that even his "ather could no longer %e sure o" the correct meaning either o" his words or e4 ression. The torture o" the moment continued. 'He clim%s li$e a s0uirrel#' remar$ed /r. Tal%ot# with a touch o" enthusiasm. 'Loo$ at him now&&he,s on the 0uarterdec$ and will %e down in the ca%ins %e"ore !ou can sa! 8ac$ Ro%inson. I warrant the! have told him to hurr!. Ca tain /unla isn,t the man to wait "ive minutes a"ter the ro es are ulled in.'

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'Those two men have shrun$ awa! %ehind some mast or other#' cried 9na . 'The! are the "ellows he,s a"ter. 6ut what can the! have to do with the murder- Have !ou ever seen them here a%out town# /r. Tal%ot-' 'Not that I remem%er) the! have a "oreign air a%out them. Loo$ li$e *outh Americans.' '+ell# the!,re going to *outh America. *weetwater can,t sto them. He has %arel! time to get o"" the shi himsel". There goes the last ro e( Have the! "orgotten himThe!,re drawing u the ladder.' 'No1 the mate sto s them) see# he,s calling the "ellow. I can hear his voice# can,t !ou- *weetwater,s game is u . He,ll have to leave in a hurr!. +hat,s the rum us now-' 'Nothing# onl! the!,ve scattered to loo$ "or him) the "o4 is down in the ca%ins and won,t come u # laughing in his sleeve# no dou%t# at $ee ing the vessel waiting while he hunts u his witness.' 'I" it,s one o" those two men he,s la!ing a tra "or he won,t snare him in a hurr!. The!,re snea$s# those two# and&&+h!# the sailors are coming %ac$ sha$ing their heads. I can almost hear "rom here the ca tain,s oaths.' 'And such a "avoura%le wind "or getting out o" the har%our( *weetwater# m! %o!# !ou are distinguishing !oursel". I" !our witness don,t an out well !ou won,t hear the last o" this in a hurr!.' 'It loo$s as i" the! meant to sail without waiting to ut him ashore#' o%served Frederic$ in a low tone# too care"ull! modulated not to stri$e his "ather as unnatural. '6! 3ingoes# so it does(' e3aculated 9na . 'There go the sails( The ilot,s hand is on the wheel# and /r. Tal%ot# are !ou going to let !our cunning amateur detective and his im ortant witness sli awa! "rom !ou li$e this-' 'I cannot hel m!sel"#' said the coroner# a little da7ed himsel" at this une4 ected chance. '.! voice wouldn,t reach them "rom this lace) %esides the! wouldn,t heed me i" it did. The shi is alread! under wa! and we won,t see *weetwater again till the ilot,s %oat comes %ac$.' .r. *utherland moved "rom the window and crossed to the door li$e a man in a dream. Frederic$# instantl! conscious o" his de arture# turned to "ollow him# %ut resentl! sto ed and addressing 9na "or the "irst time# o%served 0uietl!1

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'This is all ver! e4citing# %ut I thin$ !our estimate o" this "ellow *weetwater is 3ust. He,s a %us!%od! and craves notoriet! a%ove ever!thing. He had no witness on %oard# or# i" he had# it was an imaginar! one. You will see him return 0uite crest"allen %e"ore night# with some trum ed&u e4cuse o" mista$en identit!.' The shrug which 9na gave dismissed *weetwater as com letel! "rom the a""air as i" he had never %een in it. 'I thin$ I ma! now regard m!sel" as having this matter in m! sole charge#' was his curt remar$# as he turned awa!# while Frederic$# with a res ect"ul %ow to /r. Tal%ot# remar$ed in leaving1 'I am at !our service# /r. Tal%ot# i" !ou re0uire me to testi"! at the in0uest in regard to this will. .! testimon! can all %e concentrated into the one sentence# ,I did not e4 ect this %e0uest# and have no theories to advance in e4 lanation o" it., 6ut it has made me "eel m!sel" .rs. +e%%,s de%tor# and given me a 3usti"ia%le interest in the in0uir! which# I am told# !ou o en to& morrow into the cause and manner o" her death. I" there is a guilt! erson in this case# I shall raise no %arrier in the wa! o" his conviction.' And while the coroner,s "ace still showed the em%arrassment which this last sentence called u # his mind %eing now# as ever# "i4ed on Ama%el# Frederic$ o""ered his arm to his "ather# whose condition was not im roved %! the e4citements o" the last hal"& hour# and roceeded to lead him "rom the %uilding. +hatever the! thought# or however each strove to hide their conclusions "rom the other# no words assed %etween them till the! came in "ull sight o" the sea# on a distant %illow o" which the no%le&shi %ound "or the 6ra7ils rode trium hantl! on its outward course. Then .r. *utherland remar$ed# with a suggestive glance at the vessel1 'The !oung man who has "ound an une4 ected assage on that vessel will not come %ac$ with the ilot.' +as the sigh which was Frederic$,s onl! answer one o" relie"- It certainl! seemed so. CCI=. IN THE *HA/O+ O5 THE .A*T .r. *utherland was right. *weetwater did not return with the ilot. According to the latter there was no *weetwater on %oard the shi to return. At all events the minutest search had not succeeded in "inding him in the ca%ins# though no one had seen him leave the vessel# or# indeed# seen him at all a"ter his hast! dash %elow dec$s. It was thought on %oard that he had succeeded

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in reaching shore %e"ore the shi set sail# and the ilot was suita%l! sur rised at learning this was not so. *o were *weetwater,s "riends and associates with the e4ce tion o" a certain old gentleman living on the hill# and 9na the detective. He# that is the latter# had his e4 lanation at his tongue,s end1 '*weetwater is a "a$ir. He thought he could carr! o"" the honours "rom the regular "orce# and when he "ound he couldn,t he 0uietl! disa eared. +e shall hear o" him again in the 6ra7ils.' An o inion that s eedil! gained ground# so that in a "ew hours *weetwater was all %ut "orgotten# save %! his mother# whose heart was "illed with sus ense# and %! .r. *utherland# whose %reast was %urdened %! gratitude. The ama7ing "act o" Frederic$# the village sca egrace and Ama%el,s rec$less# i" aristocratic# lover# having %een made the legatee o" the u right .rs. +e%%,s secret savings had something to do with this. +ith such a to ic at hand# not onl! the gossi s# %ut those who had the matter o" Agatha,s murder in hand# "ound am le material to occu ! their thoughts and tongues# without wasting time over a resum tuous %us!%od!# who had not wits enough to $now that "ive minutes %e"ore sailing&time is an un"ortunate moment in which to enter a shi . And where was *weetwater# that he could not %e "ound on the shore or on the shi +e will "ollow him and see. Accustomed "rom his !outh to ram%le over the vessels while in ort# he $new this one as well as he did his mother,s house. It was# there"ore# a sur rise to the sailors when# shortl! a"ter the de arture o" the ilot# the! came u on him l!ing in the hold# hal" %uried under a %o4 which had artiall! "allen u on him. He was unconscious# or a eared to %e so# and when %rought into o en light showed mar$s o" h!sical distress and in3ur!) %ut his e!e was clear and his e4 ression hardl! as rue"ul as one would e4 ect in a man who "inds himsel" en route "or the 6ra7ils with %arel! a cou le o" dollars in his oc$et and ever! ros ect o" %eing o%liged to wor$ %e"ore the mast to earn his assage. Even the ca tain noticed this and e!ed him with sus icion. 6ut *weetwater# rousing to the necessities o" the occasion# "orthwith showed such a mi4ture o" discouragement and er le4it! that the honest sailor was deceived and a%ated hal" at least o" his oaths. He gave *weetwater a hammoc$ and admitted him to the mess# %ut told him that as soon as his %ruises allowed him to wor$ he should show himsel" on dec$ or e4 ect the rough treatment commonl! %estowed on stowawa!s. It was a ros ect to daunt some men# %ut not *weetwater. Indeed it was no more than he had calculated u on when he le"t his savings %ehind with his old mother and entered u on this enter rise with onl! a little change in his oc$et. He had underta$en out o" love and gratitude to .r. *utherland to rid Frederic$ o" a dangerous witness and he "elt a%le to com lete the sacri"ice. .ore than that# he was even strangel! ha ! "or a time. The elation o" the willing victim was his# that is "or a "ew short hours# then he %egan to thin$ o"

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his mother. How had she %orne his sudden de arture- +hat would she thin$ had %e"allen him# and how long would he have to wait %e"ore he could send her word o" his sa"et!- I" he was to %e o" real service to the man he venerated# he must %e lost long enough "or the u%lic mind to have %ecome settled in regard to the m!steries o" the +e%% murder and "or his own %oast"ul connection with it to %e "orgotten. This might mean !ears o" e4ile. He rather thought it did) meanwhile his mother( O" himsel" he thought little. 6! sundown he "elt himsel" su""icientl! recovered "rom his %ruises to go u on dec$. It was a mild night# and the sea was running in smooth long waves that as !et %ut "aintl! resaged the storm %rewing on the distant hori7on. As he inhaled the "resh air# the 3o! o" renewed health %egan to in"use its li"e into his veins and li"t the o ression "rom his heart# and# glad o" a "ew minutes o" 0uiet en3o!ment# he withdrew to a solitar! ortion o" the dec$ and allowed himsel" to "orget his trou%les in contem lation o" the ra idl! dee ening s$! and %oundless stretch o" waters. 6ut such grie"s and an4ieties as weighed u on this man,s %reast are not so easil! sha$en o"". 6e"ore he realised it his thoughts had recurred to the old theme# and he was wondering i" he was reall! o" su""icient insigni"icance in the e!es o" his "ellow& townsmen not to %e sought "or and "ound in that distant countr! to which he was %ound. +ould the!# in s ite o" his recautions# sus ect that he had lanned this evasion and insist on his return# or would he %e allowed to sli awa! and dro out o" sight li$e the white "roth he was watching on the to o" the ever&shi"ting waves- He had %oasted o" ossessing a witness. +ould the! %elieve that %oast and send a detective in search o" him# or would the! ta$e his words "or the %om%ast the! reall! were and roceed with their investigations in ha ! relie" at the loss o" his intrusive assistanceAs this was a 0uestion im ossi%le "or him to answer# he turned to other thoughts and "retted himsel" "or a while with memories o" Ama%el,s disdain and Frederic$,s careless acce tance o" a sacri"ice he could never $now the cost o"# mi4ed strangel! with relie" at %eing "ree o" it all and on the verge o" another li"e. As the dar$ settled# his head "ell "arther and "arther "orward on the rail he was leaning against# till he %ecame to an! assing e!e %ut a %lurred shadow mi4ing with other shadows e0uall! immova%le. >nli$e them# however# his shadow suddenl! shi"ted. Two men had drawn near him# one s ea$ing ure * anish and the other English. The English was all that *weetwater could understand# and this hal" o" the conversation was certainl! startling enough. Though he could not# o" coarse# $now to what or whom it re"erred# and though it certainl! had nothing to do with him# or an! interest he re resented or understood# he could not hel listening and remem%ering ever! word. The English& s ea$ing man uttered the "irst sentence he com rehended. It was this1

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'*hall it %e to&night-' The answer was in * anish. Again the English voice1 'He has come u . I saw him distinctl! as he assed the second mast.' .ore * anish) then English1 'You ma! i" !ou want to# %ut I,ll never %reathe eas! while he,s on the shi . Are !ou sure he,s the "ellow we "ear-' A ra id "low o" words "rom which *weetwater got nothing. Then slowl! and distinctl! in the sinister tones he had alread! %egun to shiver at1 '=er! good. The R. F. A. should a! well "or this#' with the 0uic$ addition "ollowing a hurried whis er1 'All right( I,d send a do7en men to the %ottom "or hal" that mone!. 6ut ,ware there( Here,s a "ellow watching us( I" he has heard&&' *weetwater turned# saw two des erate "aces ro3ected toward him# realised that something aw"ul# unheard o"# was a%out to ha en# and would have uttered a !ell o" disma!# %ut that the ver! intensit! o" his "right too$ awa! his %reath. The ne4t minute he "elt himsel" launched into s ace and envelo ed in the dar$ness o" the chilling waters. He had %een li"ted %odil! and "lung headlong into the sea. CC=. IN ECTRE.ITY *weetwater,s one thought as he san$ was# 'Now .r. *utherland need "ear me no longer.' 6ut the instinct o" li"e is strong in ever! heart# and when he "ound himsel" %reathing the air again he threw out his arms wildl! and gras ed a s ar. It was li"e to him# ho e# reconnection with his $ind. He clutched# clung# and# "eeling himsel" "loating# uttered a shout o" mingled 3o! and a eal that unha il! was smothered in the noise o" the waters and the now ra idl! rising wind. +hence had come this s ar in his des erate need- He never $new# %ut somewhere in his remote consciousness an im ression remained o" a shoc$ to the waves "ollowing his own lunge into the water# which might mean that this s ar had %een thrown out a"ter him# erha s %! the alread! re entant hands o" the wretches who had tossed him to his death. However it came# or

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"rom whatever source# it had at least given him an o ortunit! to measure his doom and realise the agonies o" ho e when it alternates with des air. The dar$ness was im enetra%le. It was no longer that o" heaven# %ut o" the nether world# or so it seemed to this da7ed soul# lunged suddenl! "rom dreams o" e4ile into the valle! o" the shadow o" death. And such a death( As he realised its horrors# as he "elt the chill o" night and the oncoming storm stri$e its iercing "angs into his marrow# and $new that his e4istence and the ho e o" ever again seeing the dear old "ace at the "ireside rested u on the strength o" his will and the tenacit! o" his li"e& clutch# he "elt his heart "ail# and the %reath that was his li"e cease in a gurgle o" terror. 6ut he clung on# and# though no com"ort came# still clung# while vague memories o" long& ago shi wrec$s# and stories told in his !outh o" men# women# and children tossing "or hours on a dri"ting lan$# "lashed through his %enum%ed %rain# and lent their horror to his own sensations o" a rehension and des air. He wanted to live. Now that the dread s ectre had risen out o" the water and had its clutch on his hair# he realised that the world held much "or him# and that even in e4ile he might wor$ and love and en3o! 2od,s heaven and earth# the green "ields and the %lue s$!. Not such s$ies as were a%ove him now. No# this was not s$! that overarched him# %ut a horri%le vault in which the clouds# rushing in torn masses# had the as ect o" demons stoo ing to contend "or him with those other demons that with long arms and irresisti%le gri were dragging at him "rom %elow. He was alone on a whirling s ar in the midst o" a midnight ocean# %ut horror and a itiless imagination made this con"lict more than that o" the elements# and his osition an isolation %e!ond that o" man removed "rom his "ellows. He was almost mad. Yet he clung. *uddenl! a %etter "rame o" mind revailed. The s$! was no lighter# save as the lightning came to relieve the overwhelming dar$ness %! a still more overwhelming glare# nor were the waves less im ortunate or his hold on the s ar more secure) %ut the horror seemed to have li"ted# and the ractical nature o" the man reasserted itsel". Other men had gone through worse dangers than these and survived to tell the tale# as he might survive to tell his. The will was all&&will and an indomita%le courage) and he had will and he had courage# or wh! had he le"t his home to dare a hard and threatening "uture urel! "rom a sentiment o" gratitude- Could he hold on long enough# da!light would come) and i"# as he now thought ossi%le# he had %een thrown into the sea within twent! hours a"ter leaving *utherlandtown# then he must %e not "ar "rom Ca e Cod# and in the direct line o" travel "rom New Yor$ to 6oston. Rescue would come# and i" the storm which was %rea$ing over his head more and more "uriousl! made it di""icult "or him to retain his hold# it certainl! would not wrec$ his s ar or drench him more than he was alread! drenched# while ever! %last would drive him shoreward. The clinging was all# and "ilial love would ma$e him do that# even in the semi&unconsciousness which now and then swe t over him. Onl!# would it not %e %etter "or .r. *utherland i" he

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should "ail and dro awa! into the !awning chasms o" the un$nown world %eneathThere were moments when he thought so# and then his clutch erce ti%l! wea$ened) %ut onl! once did he come near losing his hold altogether. And that was when he thought he heard a laugh. A laugh# here in the midst o" ocean( in the midst o" storm( a laugh( +ere demons a realit!# then- Yes) %ut the demon he had heard was o" his own imagination) it had a "ace o" .edusa sweetness and the laugh&&Onl! Ama%el,s rang out so thrillingl! "alse# and with such dia%olic trium h. Ama%el# who might %e laughing in her dreams at this ver! moment o" his su reme miser!# and who assuredl! would laugh i" conscious o" his su""ering and aware o" the doom to which his sel"&sacri"ice had %rought him. Ama%el( the thought o" her made the night more dar$# the waters more threatening# the "uture less romising. Yet he would hold on i" onl! to s ite her who hated him and whom he hated almost as much as he loved .r. *utherland. It was his last conscious thought "or hours. +hen morning %ro$e he was %ut a nerveless "igure# with sense enough to cling# and that was all. CC=I. THE A/=ENT>RE OF THE 5ARCEL 'A man( Haul him in( /on,t leave a oor "ellow dri"ting a%out li$e that.' The s ea$er# a %lu""# heart! s$i er# whose sturd! cra"t had outridden one o" the worst storms o" the season# ointed to our oor "riend *weetwater# whose head could 3ust %e seen a%ove the %ro$en s ar he clung to. In another moment a hal"& do7en hands were stretched "or him# and the insensi%le "orm was drawn in and laid on a dec$ which still showed the results o" the night,s "ierce con"lict with the waters. '/amn it( how ugl! he is(' cried one o" the sailors# with a leer at the hal"&drowned man,s "ace. 'I,d li$e to see the lass we,d lease in saving him. He,s onl! "it to oison a devil&"ish(' 6ut though more than one laugh rang out# the! gave him good care# and when *weetwater came to li"e and realised that his %lood was ulsing warml! again through his veins# and that a gre! s$! had ta$en the lace o" dar$ness# and a sound %oard su orted lim%s which "or hours had !ielded hel lessl! to the roc$ing %illows# he saw a ring o" hard %ut good&natured "aces a%out him and realised 0uite well what had %een done "or him when one o" them said1 'There( he,ll do now) all hands on dec$( +e can get into New 6ed"ord in two da!s i" this wind holds. Nor, west(' shouted the s$i er to the man at the tiller. '+e,ll su with our old women in "ort!&eight hours(' New 6ed"ord( It was the onl! word *weetwater heard. *o# he was no "arther awa! "rom *utherlandtown than that. Evidentl! 5rovidence had not meant him

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to esca e. Or was it his "ortitude that was %eing tried- A man as hum%le as he might easil! %e lost even in a lace as small as New 6ed"ord. It was his identit! he must su ress. +ith that unrecognised he might remain in the ne4t village to *utherlandtown without "ear o" %eing called u as a witness against Frederic$. 6ut could he su ress it- He thought he could. At all events he meant to tr!. '+hat,s !our name-' were the words he now heard shouted in his ear. '8onathan 6riggs#' was his mum%led re l!. 'I was %lown o"" a shi ,s dec$ in the gale last night.' '+hat shi -' 'The 5roser ine.' It was the "irst name that suggested itsel" to him. 'Oh# I thought it might have %een the Hes er) she "oundered o"" here last night.' 'Foundered- The Hes er-' The hot %lood was shooting now through his veins. 'Yes# we 3ust ic$ed u her name&%oard. That was %e"ore we got a hold on !ou.' Foundered( The shi "rom which he had %een so mercilessl! thrown( And all on %oard lost# erha s. He %egan to realise the hand o" 5rovidence in his "ate. 'It was the Hes er I sailed on. I,m not 3ust clear !et in m! head. .! "irst vo!age was made on the 5roser ine. +ell# %less the gale that %lew me "rom that dec$(' He seemed incoherent# and the! le"t him again "or a little while. +hen the! came %ac$ he had his stor! all read!# which im osed u on them 3ust so "ar as it was "or their interest. Their %usiness on this coast was not recisel! legitimate# and when the! "ound he sim l! wanted to %e set on shore# the! were 0uite willing to do thus much "or him. Onl! the! regretted that he had %arel! two dollars and his own soa$ed clothing to give in e4change "or the motle! garments the! trum ed u among them "or his resent com"ort. 6ut he# as well as the!# made the %est o" a %ad %argain# he es eciall!# as his clothes# which would %e soon scattered among hal" a do7en "amilies# were the onl! remaining clew connecting him with his native town. He could now %e 8onathan 6riggs indeed. Onl! who was 8onathan 6riggs# and how was he to earn a living under these une4 ected conditions-

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At the end o" a cou le o" da!s he was de4terousl! landed on the end o" a long ier# which the! assed without sto ing# on their wa! to their own o%scure anchorage. As he 3um ed "rom the rail to the ier and "elt again the touch o" terra "irma he drew a long %reath o" uncontrolla%le elation. Yet he had not a cent in the world# no "riends# and certainl! no ros ects. He did not even $now whether to turn to the right or the le"t as he ste ed out u on the doc$s# and when he had decided to turn to the right as %eing on the whole more luc$!# he did not $now whether to ris$ his "ortune in the streets o" the town or to lunge into one o" the low&%rowed drin$ing houses whose signs con"ronted him on this water&lane. He decided that his ros ects "or a dinner were slim in an! case# and that his onl! ho e o" %rea$ing "ast that da! la! in the use he might ma$e o" one o" his three talents. Either he must "ind a "iddle to la! on# a car enter,s %ench to wor$ at# or a iece o" detective shadowing to do. The last would %ring him %e"ore the notice o" the olice# which was 3ust the thing he must avoid) so it was "iddling or car entr! he must see$# either o" which would %e di""icult to o%tain in his resent gar%. 6ut o" di""iculties *weetwater was not a man to ta$e note. He had underta$en out o" ure love "or a good man to lose himsel". He had accom lished this# and now was he to com lain %ecause in doing so he was li$el! to go hungr! "or a da! or two- No) Ama%el might laugh at him# or he might "anc! she did# while struggling in the midst o" ra idl! engul"ing waters# %ut would she laugh at him now- He did not thin$ she would. *he was o" the $ind who sometimes go hungr! themselves in old age. *ome remonition o" this might give her a "ellow "eeling. He came to a stand %e"ore a little child sitting on an ill&$e t doorste . *miling at her $indl!# he waited "or her "irst e4 ression to see how he a eared in the e!es o" innocence. Not so %ad a man# it seemed# though his naturall! lain countenance was not relieved %! the seaman,s ca and $nitted shirt he wore. For she laughed as she loo$ed at him# and onl! ran awa! %ecause there wasn,t room "or him to ass %eside her. Com"orted a little# he sauntered on# glancing here and there with that shar e!e o" his "or a iece o" wor$ to %e done. *uddenl! he came to a halt. A mar$et&woman had got into an altercation with an o!sterman# and her stall had %een u set in the contention# and her vegeta%les were rolling here and there. He righted her stall# ic$ed u her vegeta%les# and in return got two a les and a red herring he would not have given to a dog at home. Yet it was the sweetest morsel he had ever tasted# and the a les might have %een grown in the garden o" the Hes erides "rom the satis"action and leasure the! gave this hungr! man. Then# re"reshed# he dashed into the town. It should now go hard %ut he would earn a night,s lodging. The da! was wind! and he was going along a narrow street# when something "loated down "rom a window a%ove ast his head. It was a woman,s veil# and

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as he loo$ed u to see where it came "rom he met the e!es o" its owner loo$ing down "rom an o en casement a%ove him. *he was gesticulating# and seemed to oint to someone u the street. 2lad to sei7e at an!thing which romised emolument or adventure# he shouted u and as$ed her what she wanted. 'That man down there(' she cried) 'the one in a long %lac$ coat going u the street. 9ee a"ter him and sto him) tell him the telegram has come. Fuic$# 0uic$# %e"ore he gets around the corner( He will a! !ou) run(' *weetwater# with 3o! in his heart#&&"or "ive cents was a %oon to him in the resent condition o" his a""airs#&&rushed a"ter the man she had ointed out and hastil! sto ed him. '*omeone#' he added# 'a woman in a window %ac$ there# %ade me run a"ter !ou and sa! the telegram has come. *he told me !ou would a! me#' he added# "or he saw the man was turning hastil! %ac$# without thin$ing o" the messenger. 'I need the mone!# and the run was a shar one.' +ith a reoccu ied air# the man thrust his hand into his oc$et# ulled out a coin# and handed it to him. Then he wal$ed hurriedl! o"". Evidentl! the news was welcome to him. 6ut *weetwater stood rooted to the ground. The man had given him a "ive& dollar gold iece instead o" the nic$el he had evidentl! intended. How hungril! *weetwater e!ed that coin( In it was lodging# "ood# erha s a new article or so o" clothing. 6ut a"ter a moment o" indecision which might well %e "orgiven him# he "ollowed s eedil! a"ter the man and overtoo$ him 3ust as he reached the house "rom which the woman,s veil had "loated. '*ir# ardon me) %ut !ou gave me "ive dollars instead o" "ive cents. It was a mista$e) I cannot $ee the mone!.' The man# who was not 3ust the sort "rom whom $indness would %e e4 ected# loo$ed at the mone! in *weetwater,s alm# then at the misera%le# mud&%es attered clothes he wore :he had got that mud hel ing the oor mar$et&woman;# and stared hard at the "ace o" the man who loo$ed so need! and !et returned him "ive dollars. 'You,re an honest "ellow#' he declared# not o""ering to ta$e %ac$ the gold iece. Then# with a 0uic$ glance u at the window# '+ould !ou li$e to earn that mone!-' *weetwater %ro$e out into a smile# which changed his whole countenance. '+ouldn,t I# sir-'

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The man e!ed him "or another minute with scrutinising intensit!. Then he said shortl!1 'Come u &stairs with me.' The! entered the house# went u a "light or two# and sto slightl! a3ar. ed at a door which was

'+e are going into the resence o" a lad!#' remar$ed the man. '+ait here until I call !ou.' *weetwater waited# the man! thoughts going through his mind not reventing him "rom o%serving all that assed. The man# who had le"t the door wide o en# a roached the lad! who was awaiting him# and who was a arentl! the same one who had sent *weetwater on his errand# and entered into a low %ut animated conversation. *he held a telegram in her hand which she showed him# and then a"ter a little earnest arle! and a num%er o" leading loo$s "rom them %oth toward the waiting *weetwater# she disa eared into another room# "rom which she %rought a arcel neatl! done u # which she handed to the man with a strange gesture. Another hurried e4change o" words and a meaning loo$ which did not esca e the shar e!e o" the watch"ul messenger# and the man turned and gave the arcel into *weetwater,s hands. 'You are to carr! this#' said he# 'to the town hall. In the second room to the right on entering !ou will see a ta%le surrounded %! chairs# which at this hour ought to %e em t!. At the head o" the ta%le !ou will "ind an arm&chair. On the ta%le directl! in "ront o" this !ou will la! this ac$et. .ar$ !ou# directl! %e"ore the chair and not too "ar "rom the edge o" the ta%le. Then !ou are to come out. I" !ou see an!one# sa! !ou came to leave some a ers "or .r. 2i""ord. /o this and !ou ma! $ee the "ive dollars and welcome.' *weetwater hesitated. There was something in the errand or in the manner o" the man and woman that he did not li$e. '/on,t otter(' s o$e u the latter# with an im atient loo$ at her watch. '.r. 2i""ord will e4 ect those a ers.' *weetwater,s sensitive "ingers closed on the a ers. 'Are !ou going-' as$ed the man. *weetwater loo$ed u with a smile. 'Large a! "or so slight a commission#' he ventured# turning the ac$et over and over in his hand. ac$age he held. It did not "eel li$e

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'6ut then !ou will e4ecute it at once# and according to the instructions I have given !ou#' retorted the man. 'It is !our trustworthiness I a! "or. Now go.' *weetwater turned to go. A"ter all it was ro%a%l! all right# and "ive dollars easil! earned is dou%l! "ive dollars. As he reached the staircase he stum%led. The shoes he wore did not "it him. '6e care"ul# there(' shouted the woman# in a shrill# almost "rightened voice# while the man stum%led %ac$ into the room in a haste which seemed wholl! uncalled "or. 'I" !ou let the ac$et "all !ou will do in3ur! to its contents. 2o so"tl!# man# go so"tl!(' Yet the! had said it held a ers( Trou%led# !et hardl! $nowing what his dut! was# *weetwater hastened down the stairs# and too$ his wa! u the street. The town hall should %e eas! to "ind) indeed# he thought he saw it in the distance. As he went# he as$ed himsel" two 0uestions1 Could he "ail to deliver the ac$age according to instructions# and !et earn his mone!- And was there an! wa! o" so delivering it without ris$ to the reci ient or dereliction o" dut! to the man who had intrusted it to him and whose mone! he wished to earn- To the "irst 0uestion his conscience at once answered no) to the second the re l! came more slowl!# and %e"ore "i4ing his mind determinedl! u on it he as$ed himsel" wh! he "elt that this was no ordinar! commission. He could answer readil! enough. First# the a! was too large# arguing that either the ac$et or the lacing o" the ac$et in a certain osition on .r. 2i""ord,s ta%le was o" uncommon im ortance to this man or this woman. *econdl!# the woman# though lainl! and incons icuousl! clad# had the "ace o" a more than ordinaril! unscru ulous adventuress# while her com anion was one o" those saturnine&"aced men we sometimes meet# whose "irst loo$ uts us on our guard and whom# i" we ho e nothing "rom him# we instinctivel! shun. Third# the! did not loo$ li$e inha%itants o" the house and rooms in which he "ound them. Nothing %e!ond the necessar! articles o" "urniture was to %e seen there) not a trun$# not an article o" clothing# nor an! o" the little things that mar$ a woman,s resence in a s ot where she e4 ects to s end a da! or even an hour. Conse0uentl! the! were transients and erha s alread! in the act o" "light. Then he was %eing "ollowed. O" this he "elt sure. He had "ollowed eo le himsel"# and something in his own sensations assured him that his movements were under surveillance. It would# there"ore# not do to show an! consciousness o" this# and he went on directl! and as straight to his goal as his rather limited $nowledge o" the streets would allow. He was determined to earn this mone! and to earn it without disadvantage to an!one. And he thought he saw his wa!. At the entrance o" the town hall he hesitated an instant. An o""icer was standing in the doorwa!# it would %e eas! to call his attention to the ac$et he

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held and as$ him to $ee his e!e on it. 6ut this might involve him with the olice# and this was something# as we $now# which he was more than an4ious to avoid. He reverted to his "irst idea. .i4ing with the crowd 3ust now hurr!ing to and "ro through the long corridors# he reached the room designated and "ound it# as he had %een warned he should# em t!. A roaching the ta%le# he laid down the ac$et 3ust as he had %een directed# in "ront o" the %ig arm chair# and then# casting a hurried loo$ towards the door and "ailing to "ind an!one watching him# he too$ u a encil l!ing near&%! and scrawled hastil! across the to o" the ac$et the word '*us icious.' This he calculated would act as a warning to .r. 2i""ord in case there was an!thing wrong a%out the ac$age# and ass as a 3o$e with him# and even the sender# i" there was not. And satis"ied that he had %oth earned his mone! and done 3ustice to his own a rehensions# he turned to retrace his ste s. As %e"ore# the corridors were alive with hurr!ing men o" various ages and a earance# %ut onl! two attracted his notice. One o" these was a large# intellectual& loo$ing man# who turned into the room "rom which he had 3ust emerged# and the other a short# "air man# with a countenance he had $nown "rom %o!hood. .r. *tone o" *utherlandtown was within ten aces o" him# and he was as well $nown to the good ostmaster as the ostmaster was to him. Could an!one have "oreseen such a chance( Turning his %ac$ with a slow slouch# he made "or a rear door he saw swinging in and out %e"ore him. As he assed through he cast a 0uic$ loo$ %ehind him. He had not %een recognised. In great relie" he rushed on# $noc$ing against a man standing against one o" the outside illars. 'Halloo(' shouted this man. *weetwater sto resist. ed. There was a tone o" authorit! in the voice which he could not

CC=II. THE A/=ENT>RE OF THE *CRA5 OF 5A5ER AN/ THE THREE +OR/* '+hat are !ou tr!ing to do- +h! do !ou "all over a man li$e that- Are !ou drun$-' *weetwater drew himsel" u # made a shee ish %ow# and muttered antingl!1 'E4cuse me# sir. I,m in a hurr!) I,m a messenger.' The man who was not in a hurr! seemed dis osed to $ee him "or a moment. He had caught sight o" *weetwater,s e!e# which was his one remar$a%le

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"eature# and he had also %een im ressed %! that word messenger# "or he re eated it with some em hasis. 'A messenger# eh- Are !ou going on a message now-' *weetwater# who was an4ious to get awa! "rom the vicinit! o" .r. *tone# shrugged his shoulders in careless denial# and was ushing on when the gentleman again detained him. '/o !ou $now#' said he# 'that I li$e !our loo$s- You are not a %eaut!# %ut !ou loo$ li$e a "ellow who# i" he romised to do a thing# would do it and do it might! well too.' *weetwater could not restrain a certain movement o" ride. He was honest# and he $new it# %ut the "act had not alwa!s %een so o enl! recognised. 'I have 3ust earned "ive dollars %! doing a commission "or a man#' said he# with a straight"orward loo$. '*ee# sir. It was honestl! earned.' The man# who was !oung and had a rather dashing %ut inscruta%le h!siognom!# glanced at the coin *weetwater showed him and %etra!ed a certain disa ointment. '*o !ou,re "lush#' said he. '/on,t want another 3o%-' 'Oh# as to that#' said *weetwater# edging slowl! down the street# 'I,m alwa!s read! "or %usiness. Five dollars won,t last "orever# and# %esides# I,m in need o" new togs.' '+ell# rather#' retorted the other# carelessl! "ollowing him. '/o !ou mind going u to 6oston-' 6oston( Another 3um toward home. 'No#' said *weetwater# hesitatingl!# 'not i" it,s made worth m! while. /o !ou want !our message delivered to&da!-' 'At once. That is# this evening. It,s a tas$ involving atience and more or less shrewd 3udgment. Have !ou these 0ualities# m! "riend- One would not 3udge it "rom !our clothes.' '.! clothes(' laughed *weetwater. Li"e was growing ver! interesting all at once. 'I $now it ta$es atience to +EAR them# and as "or an! lac$ o" 3udgment I ma! show in their choice# I should 3ust li$e to sa! I did not choose them m!sel"# sir) the! "ell to me romiscuous&li$e as a sort o" legac! "rom

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"riends. You,ll see what I,ll do in that wa! i" !ou give me the chance to earn an e4tra ten.' 'Ah# it,s ten dollars !ou want. +ell# come in here and have a drin$ and then we,ll see.' The! were %e"ore a saloon house o" less than hum%le retensions# and as he "ollowed the !oung gentleman in it struc$ him that it was himsel" rather than his well& dressed and air! com anion who would %e e4 ected to drin$ here. 6ut he made no remar$# though he intended to sur rise the man %! his tem erance. 'Now# loo$ here#' said the !oung gentleman# suddenl! seating himsel" at a ding! ta%le in a ver! dar$ corner and motioning *weetwater to do the same) 'I,ve %een loo$ing "or a man all da! to go u to 6oston "or me# and I thin$ !ou,ll do. You $now 6oston-' *weetwater had great command over himsel"# %ut he "lushed slightl! at this 0uestion# though it was so dar$ where he sat with this man that it made ver! little di""erence. 'I have %een there#' said he. '=er! well# then# !ou will go again to&night. You will arrive there a%out seven# !ou will go the rounds o" some hal"&do7en laces whose names I will give !ou# and when !ou come across a certain gentleman whom I will descri%e to !ou# !ou will give him&& ' 'Not a ac$age-' *weetwater %ro$e out with a certain sort o" dread o" a re etition o" his late e4 erience. 'No# this sli on which two words are written. He will want one more word# %ut %e"ore !ou give it to him !ou must as$ "or !our ten dollars. You,ll get them#' he answered in res onse to a glance o" sus icion "rom *weetwater. *weetwater was convinced that he had got hold o" another sus icious 3o%. It made him a little serious. '/o I loo$ li$e a go&%etween "or croo$s-' he as$ed himsel". 'I,m a"raid I,m not so much o" a success as I thought m!sel".' 6ut he said to the man %e"ore him1 'Ten dollars is small a! "or such %usiness. Twent!&"ive would %e nearer the mar$.' '=er! well# he will give !ou twent!&"ive dollars. I "orgot that ten dollars was %ut little in advance o" !our e4 enses.' 'Twent!&"ive i" I "ind him# and he is in "unds. +hat i" I don,t-' 'Nothing.'

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'Nothing-' 'E4ce t !our tic$et) that I,ll give !ou.' *weetwater did not $now what to sa!. Li$e the receding 3o% it might %e innocent and it might not. And then# he did not li$e going to 6oston# where he was lia%le to meet more than one who $new him. 'There is no harm in the %usiness#' o%served the other# carelessl!# ushing a glass o" whis$e! which had 3ust %een served him toward *weetwater. 'I would even %e willing to do it m!sel"# i" I could leave New 6ed"ord to&night# %ut I can,t. Come( It,s as eas! as croo$ing !our el%ow.' '8ust now !ou said it wasn,t#' growled *weetwater# drin$ing "rom his glass. '6ut no matter a%out that# go ahead# I,ll do it. *hall I have to %u! other clothes-' 'I,d %u! a new air o" trousers#' suggested the other. 'The rest !ou can get in 6oston. You don,t want to %e too much in evidence# !ou $now.' *weetwater agreed with. him. To attract attention was what he most dreaded. '+hen does the train start-' he as$ed. The !oung man told him. '+ell# that will give me time to %u! what I want. Now# what are !our instructions-' The !oung man gave him a memorandum# containing "our addresses. 'You will "ind him at one o" these laces#' said he. 'And now to $now !our man when !ou see him. He is a large# handsome "ellow# with red hair and a moustache li$e the devil. He has %een hurt# and wears his le"t hand in a sling# %ut he can la! cards# and will %e "ound la!ing cards# and in ver! good com an! too. You will have to use !our discretion in a roaching him. +hen once he sees this %it o" a er# all will %e eas!. He $nows what these two words mean well enough# and the third one# the one that is worth twent!&"ive dollars to !ou# is FRE/ERIC9.' *weetwater# who had drun$ hal" his glass# started so at this word# which was alwa!s humming in his %rain# that he $noc$ed over his tum%ler and s illed what was le"t in it. 'I ho e I won,t "orget that word#' he remar$ed# in a careless tone# intended to carr! o"" his momentar! show o" "eeling.

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'I" !ou do# then don,t e4 ect the twent!&"ive dollars#' retorted the other# "inishing his own glass# %ut not o""ering to renew *weetwater,s. *weetwater laughed# said he thought he could trust his memor!# and rose. In a hal"& hour he was at the de ot# and in another "i"teen minutes s eeding out o" New 6ed"ord on his wa! to 6oston. He had had %ut one an4iet!&&that .r. *tone might %e going u to 6oston too. 6ut# once relieved o" this a rehension# he settled %ac$# and "or the "irst time in twelve hours had a minute in which to as$ himsel" who he was# and what he was a%out. Adventure had "ollowed so "ast u on adventure that he was in a more or less da7ed condition# and "elt as little ca a%le o" connecting event with event as i" he had %een as$ed to recall the changing ictures o" a $aleidosco e. That a""air o" the ac$et# now# was it or was it not serious# and would he ever $now what it meant or how it turned outLi$e a child who had %een given a e%%le# and told to throw it over the wall# he had thrown and run# giving a shout o" warning# it is true# %ut not $nowing# nor ever li$el! to $now# where the stone had "allen# or what it was meant to do. Then this new commission on which he was %ent&&was it in an! wa! connected with the other# or merel! the odd result o" his %eing in the right lace at the right moment- He was inclined to thin$ the latter. And !et how odd it was that one dou%t"ul errand should %e "ollowed %! another# in a town no larger than New 6ed"ord# "orcing him "rom scene to scene# till he "ound himsel" s eeding toward the cit! he least desired to enter# and "rom which he had the most to "ear( 6ut %rooding over a case li$e this %rings small com"ort. He "elt that he had %een 3uggled with# %ut he neither $new %! whose hand nor in what cause. I" the hand was that o" 5rovidence# wh! he had onl! to go on "ollowing the %ec$ o" the moment# while i" it was that o" Fate# the ver! uselessness o" struggling with it was a arent at once. 5oor reasoning# erha s# %ut no other o""ered# and satis"ied that whatever came his intentions were a%ove 0uestion# he settled himsel" at last "or a na # o" which he certainl! stood in good need. +hen he awo$e he was in 6oston. The "irst thing he did was to show his list o" addresses and in0uire into what 0uarter the! would lead him. To his sur rise he "ound it to %e the "ashiona%le 0uarter. Two o" them were names o" well&$nown clu%&houses# a third that o" a "irst&class restaurant# and the "ourth that o" a rivate house on Commonwealth Avenue. Heigho( and he was dressed li$e a tram # or nearl! so( 'Fueer messenger# I# "or such $ind o" wor$#' thought he. 'I wonder wh! he lighted on such a rough&loo$ing customer. He must have had his reasons. I wonder i" he wished the errand to "ail. He %ore himsel" ver! nonchalantl! at

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the de ot. +hen I last saw him his "ace and attitude were those o" a totall! unconcerned man. Have I %een sent on a "ool,s chase a"ter all-' The a%surdit! o" this conclusion struc$ him# however# as he reasoned1 '+h!# then# should he have aid m! "are- Not as a %ene"it to me# o" course# %ut "or his own ends# whatever the! might %e. Let us see# then# what those ends are. *o now "or the gentleman o" the red hair who la!s cards with one arm in a sling.' He thought that he might get entrance into the clu%&houses easil! enough. He ossessed a certain amount o" insinuation when necessit! re0uired# and# i" hard& "eatured# had a good e4 ression which in un re3udiced minds de"ied criticism. O" orters and door$ee ers he was not a"raid# and these were the men he must "irst encounter. At the "irst clu%&house he succeeded easil! enough in getting word with the man waiting in the large hall# and %e"ore man! minutes learned that the o%3ect o" his search was not to %e "ound there that evening. He also learned his name# which was a great ste towards the success o" his em%ass!. It was +attles# Ca tain +attles# a mar$ed man evidentl!# even in this e4clusive and aristocratic clu%. Armed with this new $nowledge# %e made his wa! to the second %uilding o" the $ind and %oldl! demanded s eech with Ca tain +attles. 6ut Ca tain +attles had not !et arrived and he went out again this time to loo$ him u at the restaurant. He was not there. As *weetwater was going out two gentlemen came in# one o" whom said to the other in assing1 '*ic$# do !ou sa!- I thought +attles was made o" iron.' '*o he was#' returned the other# '%e"ore that accident to his arm. Now the least thing u sets him. He,s down at Ha%erstow,s.' That was all) the door was swung to %etween them. *weetwater had received his clew# %ut what a clew( Ha%erstow,s- +here was thatThin$ing the %old course the %est one# he re&entered the restaurant and a the gentlemen he had 3ust seen enter. roached

'I heard !ou s ea$ the name o" Ca tain +attles#' said he. 'I am hunting "or Ca tain +attles. Can !ou tell me where he is-' He soon saw that he had struc$ the wrong men "or in"ormation. The! not onl! re"used to answer him# %ut treated him with o en disdain. >nwilling to lose

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time# he le"t them# and having no other resource# hastened to the last mentioned on his list.

lace

It was now late# too late to enter a rivate house under ordinar! circumstances# %ut this house was lighted u # and a carriage stood in "ront o" it) so he had the courage to run u the ste s and consult the large door& late visi%le "rom the sidewal$. It read thus1 HA6ER*TO+. Fortune had "avoured him %etter than he e4 ected. He hesitated a moment# then decided to ring the %ell. 6ut %e"ore he had done so# the door o ened and an old gentleman a eared seeing a !ounger man out. The latter had his arm in a sling# and %ore himsel" with a "ierceness that made his a earance somewhat alarming) the other seemed to %e in an irate state o" mind. 'No a ologies(' the "ormer was sa!ing. 'I don,t mind the night air) I,m not so ill as that. +hen I,m m!sel" again we,ll have a little more tal$. .! com liments to !our daughter# sir. I wish !ou a ver! good evening# or rather night.' The old gentleman %owed# and as he did so *weetwater caught a glim se :it was the shortest glim se in the world; o" a sweet "ace %eaming "rom a doorwa! "ar down the hall. There was ain in it and a !earning an4iet! that made it ver! %eauti"ul) then it vanished# and the old gentleman# uttering some "ew sarcastic words# closed the door# and *weetwater "ound himsel" alone and in dar$ness. The $aleidosco e had %een given another turn. /ashing down the stoo # he came u on the gentleman who had receded him# 3ust as he was seating himsel" in the carriage. '5ardon me#' he gas ed# as the driver caught u the reins) '!ou have "orgotten something.' Then# as Ca tain +attles loo$ed hastil! out# 'You have "orgotten me.' The oath that rang out "rom under that twitching red moustache was something to startle even him. 6ut he clung to the carriage window and resentl! managed to sa!1 'A messenger# sir# "rom New 6ed"ord. I have %een on the hunt "or !ou "or two hours. It won,t $ee # sir# "or more than a hal"&hour longer. +here shall I "ind !ou during that time-'

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Ca tain +attles# on whom the name New 6ed"ord seemed to have made some im ression# ointed u at the coachman,s %o4 with a growl# in which command mingled strangel! with menace. Then he threw himsel" %ac$. Evidentl! the ca tain was not in ver! good humour. *weetwater# ta$ing this as an order to seat himsel" %eside the driver# did so# and the carriage drove o"". It went at a ra id ace# and %e"ore he had time to ro ound more than a 0uestion or two to the coachman# it sto ed %e"ore a large a artment&house in a %rilliantl! lighted street. Ca tain +attles got out# and *weetwater "ollowed him. The "ormer# who seemed to have "orgotten *weetwater# wal$ed ast him and entered the %uilding with a stride and swing that made the lain# lean# insigni"icant&loo$ing messenger %ehind him "eel smaller than ever. Indeed# he had never "elt so small# "or not onl! was the ca tain a man o" su er% ro ortions and cons icuous %earing# %ut he ossessed# in s ite o" his "ier! hair and "ierce moustache# that %eaute de dia%le which is at once threatening and im osing. Added to this# he was angr! and so a%sor%ed in his own thoughts that he would %e ver! a t to visit unishment o" no light character u on an!one who inter"ered with him. A leasing ros ect "or *weetwater# who# however# $e t on with the dogged determination o" his character u the "irst "light o" stairs and then u another till the! sto ed# Ca tain +attles "irst and a"terwards his hum%le "ollower# %e"ore a small door into which the ca tain endeavoured to "it a $e!. The oaths which "ollowed his "ailure to do this were not ver! encouraging to the man %ehind# nor was the $ic$ which he gave the door a"ter the second more success"ul attem t calculated to act in a ver! reassuring wa! u on an!one whose "uture a! "or a dou%t"ul tas$ rested u on this man,s good nature. The dar$ness which met them %oth on the threshold o" this now o en room was s eedil! relieved %! a %urst o" electric light# that "looded the whole a artment and %rought out the ca tain,s swaggering "orm and threatening "eatures with startling distinctness. He had thrown o"" his hat and was relieving himsel" o" a cloa$ in a "urious wa! that caused *weetwater to shrin$ %ac$# and# as the French sa!# e""ace himsel" as much as ossi%le %ehind a clothes&tree standing near the door. That the ca tain had entirel! "orgotten him was evident# and "or the resent moment that gentleman was too angr! to care or even notice i" a do7en men stood at the door. As he was tal$ing all this time# or rather 3er$ing out shar sentences# as men do when in a towering rage# *weetwater was glad to %e le"t unnoticed# "or much can %e gathered "rom scattered sentences# es eciall! when a man is in too rec$less a "rame o" mind to weigh them. He# there"ore# made %ut little movement and listened) and these are some o" the e3aculations and scra s o" tal$ he heard1 'The old urse& roud "ool( Honoured %! m! "riendshi # %ut not read! to acce t me as his daughter,s suitor( As i" I would lounge awa! hours that mean dollars

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to me in his sti"" old drawing&room# 3ust to hear his everlasting drone a%out stoc$s u and stoc$s down# and olitics gone all wrong. He has heard that I la! cards# and&& How rett! she loo$ed( I %elieve I hal" li$e that girl# and when I thin$ she has a million in her own right&&/amn it# i" I cannot win her o enl! and with a a,s consent# I will carr! her o"" with onl! her own. *he,s worth the e""ort# dou%l! worth it# and when I have her and her mone!&&Eh( +ho are !ou-' He had seen *weetwater at last# which was not strange# seeing that he had turned his wa!# and was within two "eet o" him. '+hat are !ou doing here# and who let !ou in- 2et out# or&&' 'A message# Ca tain +attles( A message "rom New 6ed"ord. You have "orgotten# sir) !ou %ade me "ollow !ou.' It was curious to see the menace slowl! die out o" the "ace o" this "lushed and angr! man as he met *weetwater,s calm e!e and una%ashed "ront# and noticed# as he had not done at "irst# the sli o" a er which the latter resolutel! held out. 'New 6ed"ord) ah# "rom Cam %ell# I ta$e it. Let me see(' And the hand which had shoo$ with rage now trem%led with a ver! di""erent sort o" emotion as he too$ the sli # cast his e!es over it# and then loo$ed %ac$ at *weetwater. Now# *weetwater $new the two words written on that a er. He could see out o" the %ac$ o" his head at times# and he had %een a%le to ma$e out these words when the man in New 6ed"ord was writing them. 'Ha enings) A"ghanistan#' with the "igures I@@@ a"ter the latter. Not much sense in them singl! or in con3unction# %ut the ca tain# muttering them over to himsel"# consulted a little %oo$ which he too$ "rom his %reast oc$et and "ound# or seemed to# a clew to their meaning. It could onl! have %een a artial one# however# "or in another instant he turned on *weetwater with a sour loo$ and a thundering oath. 'Is this all-' he shouted. '/oes he call this a com lete message-' 'There is another word#' returned *weetwater# 'which he %ade me give !ou %! word o" mouth) %ut that word don,t go "or nothing. It,s worth 3ust twent!&"ive dollars. I,ve earned it# sir. I came u "rom New 6ed"ord on ur ose to deliver it to !ou.' *weetwater e4 ected a %low# %ut he onl! got a stare.

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'Twent!&"ive dollars#' muttered the ca tain. '+ell# it,s "ortunate that I have them. And who are !ou-' he as$ed. 'Not one o" Cam %ell,s ic$&u s# surel!-' 'I am a con"idential messenger#' smiled *weetwater# amused against his will at "inding a name "or himsel". 'I carr! messages and e4ecute commissions that re0uire more or less discretion in the handling. I am aid well. Twent!&"ive dollars is the rice o" this 3o%.' '*o !ou have had the honour o" in"orming me %e"ore#' %lustered the other with an attem t to hide some serious emotion. '+h!# man# what do !ou "ear- /on,t !ou see I,m hurt- You could $noc$ me over with a "eather i" !ou touched m! game arm.' 'Twent!&"ive dollars#' re eated *weetwater. The ca tain grew angrier. '/ash it( aren,t !ou going to have them- +hat,s the word-' 6ut *weetwater wasn,t going to %e caught %! cha"". 'C. O. /.#' he insisted "irml!# standing his ground# though certain that the %low would now "all. 6ut no# the ca tain laughed# and tugging awa! with his one "ree hand at his oc$et# he %rought out a oc$et%oo$# "rom which he managed de"tl! enough to draw out three %ills. 'There#' said he# la!ing them on the ta%le# %ut $ee ing one long vigorous "inger on them. 'Now# the word.' *weetwater laid his own hand on the %ills. 'Frederic$#' said he. 'Ah(' said the other thought"ull!# li"ting his "inger and roceeding to stride u and down the room. 'He,s a sti"" one. +hat he sa!s# he will do. Two thousand dollars( and soon# too# I warrant. +ell# I,m in a devil o" a "i4 at last.' He had again "orgotten the resence o" *weetwater. *uddenl! he turned or rather sto ed. His e!e was on the messenger# %ut he did not even see him. 'One Frederic$ must o""set the other#' he cried. 'It,s the onl! loo hole out#' and he threw himsel" into a chair "rom which he immediatel! s rang u again with a !ell. He had hurt his wounded arm. 5andemonium reigned in that small room "or a minute# then his e!e "ell again on *weetwater# who# under the "ascination o" the s ectacle o""ered him# had onl! 3ust succeeded in "inding the $no% o" the door. This time there was recognition in his loo$.

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'+ait(' he cried. 'I ma! have use "or !ou too. Con"idential messengers are hard to come %!# and one that Cam %ell would em lo! must %e all right. *it down there( I,ll tal$ to !ou when I,m read!.' *weetwater was not slow in o%e!ing this command. 6usiness was %ooming with him. 6esides# the name o" Frederic$ acted li$e a charm u on him. There seemed to %e so man! Frederic$s in the world# and one o" them la! in such a curious wa! near his heart. .eanwhile the ca tain reseated himsel"# %ut more care"ull!. He had a lan or method o" rocedure to thin$ out# or so it seemed# "or he sat a long time in rigid immo%ilit!# with onl! the scowl o" er le4it! or ill&tem er on his %row to show the nature o" his thoughts. Then he drew a sheet o" a er toward him# and %egan to write a letter. He was so a%sor%ed over this letter and the mani ulation o" it# having %ut one hand to wor$ with# that *weetwater determined u on a ha7ardous stro$e. The little %oo$ which the ca tain had consulted# and which had undou%tedl! "urnished him with a $e! to those two incongruous words# la! on the "loor not "ar "rom him# having %een "lung "rom its owner,s hand during the moments o" assion and su""ering I have a%ove mentioned. To reach this %oo$ with his "oot# to draw it toward him# and# "inall!# to get hold o" it with his hand# was not di""icult "or one who as ired to %e a detective# and had alread! done some good wor$ in that direction. 6ut it was harder to turn the leaves and "ind the words he sought without attracting the attention o" his "ierce com anion. He# however# succeeded in doing this at last# the long list o" words he "ound on ever! age %eing arranged al ha%eticall!. It was a rivate code "or telegra hic or ca%le messages# and he soon "ound that 'Ha enings' meant1 'Our little game discovered) la! straight until I give !ou the win$.' And that 'A"ghanistan' stood "or1 'Hush mone!.' As the latter was "ollowed %! the "igures I have mentioned# the ur ort o" the message needed no e4 lanation# %ut the word 'Frederic$' did. *o he searched "or that# onl! to "ind that it was not in the %oo$. There was %ut one conclusion to draw. This name was er"ectl! well $nown %etween them# and was that o" the erson# no dou%t# who laid claim to the two thousand dollars. *atis"ied at holding this clew to the riddle# he dro ed the %oo$ again at his side and s$il"ull! $ic$ed it "ar out into the room. Ca tain +attles had seen nothing. He was a man who too$ in onl! one thing at a time. The enning o" that letter went on la%oriousl!. It too$ so long that *weetwater do7ed# or retended to# and when it was at last done# the cloc$ on the mantel iece had struc$ two. 'Halloo there# now(' suddenl! shouted the ca tain# turning on the messenger. 'Are !ou read! "or another 3ourne!-'

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'That de ends#' smiled *weetwater# rising slee il! and advancing. 'Haven,t got over the last one !et# and would rather slee than start out again.' 'Oh# !ou want a!- +ell# !ou,ll get that "ast enough i" !ou succeed in !our mission. This letter' he shoo$ it with an im atient hand&&'should %e worth two thousand "ive hundred dollars to me. I" !ou %ring me %ac$ that mone! or its e0uivalent within twent!&"our hours# I will give !ou a clean hundred o" it. 2ood enough a!# I ta$e it# "or "ive hours, 3ourne!. 6etter than slee # eh- 6esides# !ou can do7e on the cars.' *weetwater agreed with him in all these assertions. 5utting on his ca # he reached "or the letter. He didn,t li$e %eing made an instrument "or %lac$mail# %ut he was curious to see to whom he was a%out to %e sent. 6ut the ca tain had grown suddenl! war!. 'This is not a letter to %e dro ed in the mail%o4#' said he. 'You %rought me a line here whose rom t deliver! has revented me "rom ma$ing a "ool o" m!sel" to&night. You must do as much with this one. It is to %e carried to its destination %! !oursel"# given to the erson whose name !ou will "ind written on it# and the answer %rought %ac$ %e"ore !ou slee # mind !ou# unless !ou snatch a win$ or so on the cars. That it is night need not distur% !ou. It will %e da!light %e"ore !ou arrive at the lace to which this is addressed# and i" !ou cannot get into the house at so earl! an hour# whistle three times li$e this&&listen and one o" the windows will resentl! "l! u . You have had no trou%le "inding me) !ou,ll have no trou%le "inding him. +hen !ou return# hunt me u as !ou did to&night. Onl! !ou need not trou%le !oursel" to loo$ "or me at Ha%erstow,s#' he added under his %reath in a tone that was no dou%t highl! satis"actor! to himsel". 'I shall not %e there. And now# o"" with !ou(' he shouted. 'You,ve !our hundred dollars to ma$e %e"ore da!light# and it,s alread! a"ter two.' *weetwater# who had stolen a glim se at the su erscri tion on the letter he held# stum%led as he went out o" the door. It was directed# as he had e4 ected# to a Frederic$# ro%a%l! to the second one o" whom Ca tain +attles had s o$en# %ut not# as he had e4 ected# to a stranger. The name on the letter was Frederic$ *utherland# and the lace o" his destination was *utherlandtown. CC=III. +HO ARE YO>The round had come "ull circle. 6! various chances and a train o" circumstances "or which he could not account# he had %een turned "rom his "irst intention and was %eing %rought %ac$ stage %! stage to the ver! s ot he had thought it his dut! to "l! "rom. +as this "ate- He %egan to thin$ so# and no longer so much as dreamed o" struggling against it. 6ut he "elt ver! much da7ed# and wal$ed awa! through the now artiall! deserted streets with an

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odd sense o" "ailure that was onl! com ensated %! the ho e he now cherished o" seeing his mother again# and %eing once more Cale% *weetwater o" *utherlandtown. He was clearer# however# a"ter a "ew %loc$s o" ra id wal$ing# and then he %egan to wonder over the contents o" the letter he held# and how the! would a""ect its reci ient. +as it a new danger he was %ringing him- Instead o" aiding .r. *utherland in $ee ing his dangerous secret# was he destined to %ring disgrace u on him# not onl! %! his testimon! %e"ore the coroner# %ut %! means o" this letter# which# whatever it contained# certainl! could not %ode good to the man "rom whom it was designed to wrest two thousand "ive hundred dollarsThe "ear that he was destined to do so grew u on him ra idl!# and the tem tation to o en the letter and ma$e himsel" master o" its contents %e"ore leaving town at last %ecame so strong that his sense o" honour aled %e"ore it# and he made u his mind that %e"ore he ventured into the recincts o" *utherlandtown he would $now 3ust what sort o" a %om%shell he was carr!ing into the *utherland "amil!. To do this he sto ed at the "irst res ecta%le lodging&house he encountered and hired a room. Calling "or hot water ' i ing hot#' he told them&&he su%3ected the letter to the e""ects o" steam and resentl! had it o en. He was not disa ointed in its contents# save that the! were even more dangerous than he had antici ated. Ca tain +attles was an old cron! o" Frederic$,s and $new his record %etter than an!one else in the world. From this "act and the added one that Frederic$ had stood in s ecial need o" mone! at the time o" Agatha +e%%,s murder# the writer had no hesitation in %elieving him guilt! o" the crime which o ened his wa! to a "ortune# and though under ordinar! circumstances he would# as his "riend Frederic$ alread! $new# %e er"ectl! willing to $ee his o inions to himsel"# he was 3ust now under the same necessit! "or mone! that Frederic$ had %een at that "atal time# and must there"ore see the colour o" two thousand "ive hundred dollars %e"ore the da! was out i" Frederic$ desired to have his name $e t out o" the 6oston a ers. That it had %een $e t out u to this time argued that the crime had %een well enough hidden to ma$e the alternative thus o""ered an im ortant one. There was no signature. *weetwater# a""ected to an e4tent he little e4 ected# resealed the letter# made his e4cuses to the landlord# and le"t the house. Now he could see wh! he had not %een allowed to ma$e his useless sacri"ice. Another man than himsel" sus ected Frederic$# and %! a word could reci itate the doom he alread! saw hung too low a%ove the devoted head o" .r. *utherland,s son to %e averted.

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'Yet I,ll attem t that too#' %urst im etuousl! "rom his li s. 'I" I "ail# I can %ut go %ac$ with a $nowledge o" this added danger. I" I succeed# wh! I must still go %ac$. From some ersons and "rom some com lications it is useless to attem t "light.' Returning to the clu%&house he had "irst entered in his search "or Ca tain +attles# he as$ed i" that gentleman had !et come in. This time he was answered %! an a""irmative# though he might almost as well have not %een# "or the ca tain was la!ing cards in a rivate room and would not su%mit to an! interru tion. 'He will su%mit to mine#' retorted *weetwater to the man who had told him this. 'Or wait) hand him %ac$ this letter and sa! that the messenger re"uses to deliver it.' This %rought the ca tain out# as he had "ull! e4 ected it would. '+h!# what&&' %egan that gentleman in a "urious rage. 6ut *weetwater# la!ing his hand on the arm he $new to %e so sensitive# rose on ti toe and managed to whis er in the angr! man,s ear1 'You are a card&shar # and it will %e eas! enough to ruin !ou. Threaten Frederic$ *utherland and in two wee$s !ou will %e %o!cotted %! ever! clu% in this cit!. Twent!& "ive hundred dollars won,t a! !ou "or that.' This "rom a nondescri t "ellow with no grains o" a gentleman a%out him in "orm# "eature# or a arel( The ca tain stared non lussed# too much ta$en a%ac$ to %e even angr!. *uddenl! he cried1 'How do !ou $now all this- How do !ou $now what is or is not in the letter I gave !ou-' *weetwater# with a shrug that in its 0uiet signi"icance seemed to ma$e him at once the e0ual o" his interrogator# 0uietl! ressed the 0uivering lim% under his hand and calml! re lied1 'I $now %ecause I have read it. 6e"ore utting m! head in the lion,s mouth# I ma$e it a oint to count his teeth#' and li"ting his hand# he drew %ac$# leaving the ca tain reeling. '+hat is !our name- +ho are !ou-' shouted out +attles as *weetwater was drawing o"".

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It was the third time he had %een as$ed that 0uestion within twent!&"our hours# %ut not %e"ore with this telling em hasis. '+ho are !ou# I sa!# and what can !ou do to me&&-' 'I am&&6ut that is an insigni"icant detail unworth! o" !our curiosit!. As to what I can do# wait and see. 6ut "irst %urn that letter.' And turning his %ac$ he "led out o" the %uilding# "ollowed %! oaths which# i" not loud# were certainl! dee and ver! "ar& reaching. It was the "irst time Ca tain +attles had met his match in audacit!. CCIC. HO.E A2AIN On his wa! to the de ot# *weetwater went into the Herald o""ice and %ought a morning a er. At the station he o ened it. There was one column devoted to the wrec$ o" the Hes er# and a whole hal"& age to the roceedings o" the third da!,s in0uir! into the cause and manner o" Agatha +e%%,s death. .erel! noting that his name was mentioned among the lost# in the "irst article# he %egan to read the latter with 3usti"ia%le eagerness. The assurance given in Ca tain +attles,s letter was true. No direct sus icion had as !et "allen on Frederic$. As the lover o" Ama%el 5age# his name was necessaril! mentioned# %ut neither in the account o" the in0uest nor in the editorials on the su%3ect could he "ind an! roo" that either the u%lic or olice had got hold o" the great idea that he was the man who had receded Ama%el to Agatha,s cottage. Relieved on this score# *weetwater entered more "ull! into the articulars# and "ound that though the 3ur! had sat three da!s# ver! little more had come to light than was $nown on the morning he made that %old dash into the Hes er. .ost o" the witnesses had given in their testimon!# Ama%el,s %eing the chie"# and though no o en accusation had %een made# it was evident "rom the trend o" the 0uestions ut to the latter that Ama%el,s connection with the a""air was loo$ed u on as criminal and as lacing her in a ver! sus icious light. Her re lies# however# as once %e"ore# under a similar %ut less "ormal e4amination# "ailed to conve! an! recognition on her art either o" this sus icion or o" her own osition) !et the! were not e4actl! "ran$# and *weetwater saw# or thought he saw :naturall! "ailing to have a $e! to the situation;# that she was still wor$ing u on her old lan o" saving %oth hersel" and Frederic$# %! throwing whatever sus icion her words might raise u on the deceased <a%el. He did not $now# and erha s it was 3ust as well that he did not at this es ecial 3uncture# that she was onl! %iding her time&&now ver! nearl! at hand&& and that instead o" loving Frederic$# she hated him# and was determined u on his destruction. Reading# as a "inal clause# that .r. *utherland was e4 ected to testi"! soon in e4 lanation o" his osition as e4ecutor o" .rs. +e%%,s will# *weetwater grew ver! serious# and# while no change too$ lace in his mind as to his resent dut!# he decided that his return must %e as uno%trusive as ossi%le# and his onl! too timel!

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rea earance on the scene o" the in0uir! $e t secret till .r. *utherland had given his evidence and retired "rom under the e!es o" his e4cited "ellow&citi7ens. 'The sight o" me might unnerve him#' was *weetwater,s thought# ' reci itating the ver! catastro he we dread. One loo$# one word on his art indicative o" his inner a rehensions that his son had a hand in the crime which has so %ene"ited him# and nothing can save Frederic$ "rom the charge o" murder. Not 9na ,s s$ill# m! silence# or Ama%el,s "inesse. The !oung man will %e lost.' He did not $now# as we do# that Ama%el,s "inesse was devoted to winning a hus%and "or hersel"# and that# in the event o" "ailure# the action she threatened against her 0uondam lover would %e reci itated that ver! da! at the moment when the cloc$ struc$ twelve. ...... *weetwater arrived home %! the wa! o" 5ortchester. He had seen one or two ersons he $new# %ut# so "ar# had himsel" esca ed recognition. The morning light was diml! %rea$ing when he strode into the outs$irts o" *utherlandtown and %egan to descend the hill. As he assed .r. Hallida!,s house he loo$ed u # and was astonished to see a light %urning in one dee l! em%owered window. Alas( he did not $now how earl! one an4ious heart wo$e during those trou%lous da!s. The *utherland house was dar$# %ut as he cre t ver! close under its overhanging eaves he heard a dee sigh uttered over his head# and $new that someone was u here also in an4ious e4 ectation o" a da! that was destined to hold more than even he antici ated. .eanwhile# the sea grew ros!# and the mother,s cottage was as !et "ar o"". Hurr!ing on# he came at last under the e!e o" more than one o" the earl! risers o" *utherlandtown. '+hat# *weetwater( Alive and well(' 'He!# *weetwater# we thought !ou were lost on the Hes er(' 'Halloo( Home in time to see the rett! Ama%el arrested-' 5hrases li$e these met him at more than one corner) %ut he eluded them all# sto ing onl! to ut one hesitating 0uestion. +as his mother wellHome "ears had made themselves "elt with his near a door. roach to that hum%le cottage

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6oo$ III. Had 6ats! Lived(

CCC. +HAT FOLLO+E/ THE *TEI9IN2 OF THE CLOC9 It was the last da! o" the in0uest# and to man! it %ade "air to %e the least interesting. All the witnesses who had an!thing to sa! had long ago given in their testimon!# and when at or near noon *weetwater slid into the incons icuous seat he had succeeded in o%taining near the coroner# it was to "ind in two "aces onl! an! signs o" the eagerness and e4 ectanc! which "illed his own %reast to su""ocation. 6ut as these "aces were those o" Agnes Hallida! and Ama%el 5age# he soon recognised that his own 3udgment was not at "ault# and that notwithstanding outward a earances and the languid interest shown in the now lagging roceedings# the moment resaged an event "ull o" unseen %ut vital conse0uence. Frederic$ was not visi%le in the great hall) %ut that he was near at hand soon %ecame evident "rom the change *weetwater now saw in Ama%el. For while she had hitherto sat under the universal ga7e with onl! the "aint smile o" conscious %eaut! on her inscruta%le "eatures# she roused as the hands o" the cloc$ moved toward noon# and glanced at the great door o" entrance with an evil e4 ectanc! that startled even *weetwater# so little had he reall! understood the nature o" the assions la%ouring in that venomous %reast. Ne4t moment the door o ened# and Frederic$ and his "ather came in. The air o" trium hant satis"action with which Ama%el san$ %ac$ into her seat was as mar$ed in its character as her revious sus ense. +hat did it mean- *weetwater# noting it# and the vivid contrast it o""ered to Frederic$,s air o" de ression# "elt that his return had %een well timed. .r. *utherland was loo$ing ver! "ee%le. As he too$ the chair o""ered him# the change in his a earance was a arent to all who $new him# and there were "ew there who did not $now him. And# startled %! these evidences o" su""ering which the! could not understand and "eared to inter ret even to themselves# more than one devoted "riend stole uneas! glances at Frederic$ to see i" he too were under the cloud which seemed to envelo his "ather almost %e!ond recognition. 6ut Frederic$ was loo$ing at Ama%el# and his erect head and determined as ect made him a cons icuous "igure in the room. *he who had called u this e4 ression# and alone com rehended it "ull!# smiled as she met his e!e# with that curious slow di ing o" her dim les which had more than once

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con"ounded the coroner# and rendered her at once the admiration and a%horrence o" the crowd who "or so long a time had had the o ortunit! o" watching her. Frederic$# to whom this smile conve!ed a last ho e as well as a last threat# loo$ed awa! as soon as ossi%le# %ut not %e"ore her e!es had "allen in their old in0uiring wa! to his hands# "rom which he had removed the ring which u to this hour he had invaria%l! worn on his third "inger. In this glance o" hers and this action o" his %egan the struggle that was to ma$e that da! memora%le in man! hearts. A"ter the "irst stir occasioned %! the entrance o" two such im ortant ersons the crowd settled %ac$ into its old 0uietude under the coroner,s hand. A tedious witness was having his slow sa!# and to him a "ull attention was %eing given in the ho e that some real enlightenment would come at last to settle the 0uestions which had %een raised %! Ama%el,s incom lete and unsatis"actor! testimon!. 6ut no man can "urnish what he does not ossess# and the "ew "inal minutes %e"ore noon assed %! without an! addition %eing made to the "acts which had alread! %een resented "or general consideration. As the witness sat down the cloc$ %egan to stri$e. As the slow# hesitating stro$es rang out# *weetwater saw Frederic$ !ield to a sudden %ut most ro"ound emotion. The old "ear# which we understand# i" *weetwater did not# had again sei7ed the victim o" Ama%el,s am%ition# and under her e!e# which was %la7ing "ull u on him now with a "ell and stead! ur ose# he "ound his right hand stealing toward the le"t in the signi"icant action she e4 ected. 6etter to !ield than "all headlong into the it one word o" hers would o en. He had not meant to !ield# %ut now that the moment had come# now that he must at once and "orever choose %etween a course that led sim l! to ersonal unha iness and one that involved not onl! himsel"# %ut those dearest to him# in disgrace and sorrow# he "elt himsel" wea$en to the oint o" clutching at whatever would save him "rom the conse0uences o" con"ession. .oral strength and that tenacit! o" ur ose which onl! comes "rom !ears o" sel"& control were too latel! awa$ened in his %reast to sustain him now. As stro$e a"ter stro$e "ell on the ear# he "elt himsel" !ielding %e!ond recover!# and had almost touched his "inger in the signi"icant action o" assent which Ama%el awaited with %reathless e4 ectation# when&&was it miracle or onl! the suggestion o" his %etter nature-&&the memor! o" a "ace "ull o" hol! leading rose "rom the ast %e"ore his e!es and with an inner cr! o" '.other(' he "lung his hand out and clutched his "ather,s arm in a wa! to %rea$ the charm o" his own dread and end "orever the e""ects o" the intolera%le "ascination that was wor$ing u on him. Ne4t minute the last stro$e o" noon rang out# and the hour was u which Ama%el had set as the limit o" her silence.

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A ause# which to their two hearts i" to no others seemed strangel! a ro riate# "ollowed the cessation o" these sounds# then the witness was dismissed# and Ama%el# ta$ing advantage o" the movement# was a%out to lean toward .r. Courtne!# when Frederic$# lea ing with a %ound to his "eet# drew all e!es towards himsel" with the cr!1 'Let me %e ut on m! oath. I have testimon! to give o" the utmost im ortance in this case.' The coroner was astounded) ever!one was astounded. No one had e4 ected an!thing "rom him# and instinctivel! ever! e!e turned towards Ama%el to see how she was a""ected %! his action. *trangel!# evidentl!# "or the loo$ with which she settled %ac$ in her seat was one which no one who saw it ever "orgot# though it conve!ed no hint o" her real "eelings# which were somewhat chaotic. Frederic$# who had "orgotten her now that he had made u his mind to s ea$# waited "or the coroner,s re l!. 'I" !ou have testimon!#' said that gentleman a"ter e4changing a "ew hurried words with .r. Courtne! and the sur rised 9na # '!ou can do no %etter than give it to us at once. .r. Frederic$ *utherland# will !ou ta$e the stand-' +ith a no%le air "rom which all hesitation had vanished# Frederic$ started towards the lace indicated# %ut sto ed %e"ore he had ta$en a hal"&do7en ste s and glanced %ac$ at his "ather# who was visi%l! succum%ing under this last shoc$. '2o(' he whis ered# %ut in so thrilling a tone it was heard to the remotest corner o" the room. '* are me the anguish o" sa!ing what I have to sa! in !our resence. I could not %ear it. You could not %ear it. Later# i" !ou will wait "or me in one o" these rooms# I will re eat m! tale in !our ears# %ut go now. It is m! last entreat!.' There was a silence) no one ventured a dissent# no one so much as made a gesture o" disa roval. Then .r. *utherland struggled to his "eet# cast one last loo$ around him# and disa eared through a door which had o ened li$e magic %e"ore him. Then and not till then did Frederic$ move "orward. The moment was intense. The coroner seemed to share the universal e4citement# "or his "irst 0uestion was a leading one and %rought out this startling admission1 'I have o%truded m!sel" into this in0uir! and now as$ to %e heard %! this 3ur!# %ecause no man $nows more than I do o" the manner and cause o" Agatha

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+e%%,s death. This !ou will %elieve when I tell !ou that I was the erson .iss 5age "ollowed into .rs. +e%%,s house and whom she heard descend the stairs during the moment she crouched %ehind the "igure o" the slee ing 5hilemon.' It was more# in"initel! more# than an!one there had e4 ected. It was not onl! an ac$nowledgment %ut a con"ession# and the shoc$# the sur rise# the alarm# which it occasioned even to those who had never had much con"idence in this !oung man,s virtue# was almost a alling in its intensit!. Had it not %een "or the consciousness o" .r. *utherland,s near resence the "eeling would have risen to out%rea$) and man! voices were held in su%3ection %! the remem%rance o" this venerated man,s last loo$# that otherwise would have made themselves heard in des ite o" the restrictions o" the lace and the authorit! o" the olice. To Frederic$ it was a moment o" immeasura%le grie" and humiliation. On ever! "ace# in ever! shrin$ing "orm# in su%dued murmurs and o en cries# he read instant and com lete condemnation# and !et in all his li"e "rom %o!hood u to this hour# never had he %een so worth! o" their esteem and consideration. 6ut though he "elt the iron enter his soul# he did not lose his determined attitude. He had o%served a change in Ama%el and a change in Agnes# and i" onl! to disa oint the vile trium h o" the one and raise again the droo ing courage o" the other# he withstood the clamour and %egan s ea$ing again# %e"ore the coroner had %een a%le to "ull! restore 0uiet. 'I $now#' said he# 'what this ac$nowledgment must conve! to the minds o" the 3ur! and eo le here assem%led. 6ut i" an!one who listens to me thin$s me guilt! o" the death I was so un"ortunate as to have witnessed# he will %e doing me a wrong which Agatha +e%% would %e the "irst to condemn. /r. Tal%ot# and !ou# gentlemen o" the 3ur!# in the "ace o" 2od and man# I here declare that .rs. +e%%# in m! resence and %e"ore m! e!es# gave to hersel" the %low which has ro%%ed us all o" a most valua%le li"e. *he was not murdered.' It was a solemn assertion# %ut it "ailed to convince the crowd %e"ore him. As %! one im ulse men and women %ro$e into a tumult. .r. *utherland was "orgotten and cries o" 'Never( *he was too good( It,s all calumn!( A wretched lie(' %ro$e in unrestrained e4citement "rom ever! art o" the large room. In vain the coroner smote with his gavel# in vain the local olice endeavoured to restore order) the tide was u and over&swe t ever!thing "or an instant till silence was suddenl! restored %! the sight o" Ama%el smoothing out the "olds o" her cris white "roc$ with an incredulous# almost insulting# smile that at once "i4ed attention again on Frederic$. He sei7ed the occasion and s o$e u in a tone o" great resolve.

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'I have made an assertion#' said he# '%e"ore 2od and %e"ore this 3ur!. To ma$e it seem a credi%le one I shall have to tell m! own stor! "rom the %eginning. Am I allowed to do so# .r. Coroner-' 'You are#' was the "irm res onse. 'Then# gentlemen#' continued Frederic$# still without loo$ing at Ama%el# whose smile had ac0uired a moc$er! that drew the e!es o" the 3ur! toward her more than once during the "ollowing recital# '!ou $now# and the u%lic generall! now $now# that .rs. +e%% has le"t me the greater ortion o" the mone! o" which she died ossessed. I have never %e"ore ac$nowledged to an!one# not even to the good man who awaits this 3ur!,s verdict on the other side o" that door !onder# that she had reasons "or this# good reasons# reasons o" which u to the ver! evening o" her death I was m!sel" ignorant# as I was ignorant o" her intentions in m! regard# or that I was the s ecial o%3ect o" her attention# or that we were under an! mutual o%ligations in an! wa!. +h!# then# I should have thought o" going to her in the great strait in which I "ound m!sel" on that da!# I cannot sa!. I $new she had mone! in her house) this I had unha il! %een made ac0uainted with in an accidental wa!# and I $new she was o" $indl! dis osition and 0uite ca a%le o" doing a ver! unsel"ish act. *till# this would not seem to %e reason enough "or me to intrude u on her late at night with a lea "or a large loan o" mone!# had I not %een in a des erate condition o" mind# which made an! attem t seem reasona%le that romised relie" "rom the unendura%le %urden o" a ressing and disre uta%le de%t. I was o%liged to have mone!# a great deal o" mone!# and I had to have it at once) and while I $now that this will not serve to lighten the sus icion I have %rought u on m!sel" %! m! late admissions# it is the onl! e4 lanation I can give !ou "or leaving the %all at m! "ather,s house and hurr!ing down secretl! and alone into town to the little cottage where# as I had %een told earl! in the evening# a small entertainment was %eing given# which would insure its %eing o en even at so late an hour as midnight. .iss 5age# who will# I am sure# ardon the introduction o" her name into this narrative# has ta$en ains to declare to !ou that in the e4 edition she hersel" made into town that evening# she "ollowed some erson,s ste s down&hill. This is ver! li$el! true# and those ste s were ro%a%l! mine# "or a"ter leaving the house %! the garden door# I came directl! down the main road to the corner o" the lane running ast .rs. +e%%,s cottage. Having alread! seen "rom the hillside the light %urning in her u er windows# I "elt encouraged to roceed# and so hastened on till I came to the gate on High *treet. Here I had a moment o" hesitation# and thoughts %itter enough "or me to recall them at this moment came into m! mind# ma$ing that instant# erha s# the ver! worst in m! li"e) %ut the! assed# than$ 2od# and with no more des erate "eeling than a sullen intention o" having m! own wa! a%out this mone!# I li"ted the latch o" the "ront door and ste ed in. 'I had e4 ected to "ind a 3ovial grou o" "riends in her little ground arlour# or at least to hear the sound o" merr! voices and laughter in the rooms a%ove)

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%ut no sounds o" an! sort awaited me) indeed the house seemed strangel! silent "or one so "ull! lighted# and# astonished at this# I ushed the door a3ar at m! le"t and loo$ed in. An une4 ected and iti"ul sight awaited me. *eated at a ta%le set with a%undance o" untasted "ood# I saw the master o" the house with his head sun$ "orward on his arms# aslee . The e4 ected guests had "ailed to arrive# and he# tired out with waiting# had "allen into a do7e at the %oard. 'This was a condition o" things "or which I was not re ared. .rs. +e%%# whom I wished to see# was ro%a%l! u stairs# and while I might summon her %! a sturd! ra on the door %eside which I stood# I had so little desire to wa$e her hus%and# o" whose mental condition I was well aware# that I could not %ring m!sel" to ma$e an! loud noise within his hearing. Yet I had not the courage to retreat. All m! ho e o" relie" "rom the man! di""iculties that menaced me la! in the generosit! o" this great& hearted woman# and i" out o" usillanimit! I let this hour go %! without ma$ing m! a eal# nothing %ut shame and disaster awaited me. Yet how could I ho e to lure her down&stairs without noise- I could not# and so# !ielding to the im ulse o" the moment# without an! realisation# I here swear# o" the e""ect which m! une4 ected resence would have on the no%le woman overhead# I sli ed u the narrow staircase# and catching at that moment the sound o" her voice calling out to 6ats!# I ste ed u to the door I saw standing o en %e"ore me and con"ronted her %e"ore she could move "rom the ta%le %e"ore which she was sitting# counting over a large roll o" mone!. '.! loo$ :and it was dou%tless not a common loo$# "or the sight o" a mass o" mone! at that moment# when mone! was ever!thing to me# roused ever! lur$ing demon in m! %reast; seemed to a all# i" it did not "righten her# "or she rose# and meeting m! e!e with a ga7e in which shoc$ and some strange and oignant agon! totall! incom rehensi%le to me were strangel! %lended# she cried out1 ',No# no# Frederic$( You don,t $now what !ou are doing. I" !ou want m! mone!# ta$e it) i" !ou want m! li"e# I will give it to !ou with m! own hand. /on,t stain !ours&&don,t&&, 'I did not understand her. I did not $now until I thought it over a"terward that m! hand was thrust convulsivel! into m! %reast in a wa! which# ta$en with m! wild mien# made me loo$ as i" I had come to murder her "or the mone! over which she was hovering. I was %lind# dea" to ever!thing %ut that mone!# and %ending madl! "orward in a state o" mental into4ication aw"ul enough "or me to remem%er now# I answered her "ren7ied words %! some such %ro$en e4clamations as these1 ',2ive# then( I want hundreds&&thousands&&now# now# to save m!sel"( /isgrace# shame# rison await me i" I don,t have them. 2ive# give(, And m! hand went out toward it# not toward her) %ut she mistoo$ the action# mistoo$

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m! ur ose# and# with a heart& %ro$en cr!# to save me# .E# "rom crime# the worst crime o" which humanit! is ca a%le# she caught u a dagger l!ing onl! too near her hand in the o en drawer against which she leaned# and in a moment o" "athomless anguish which we who can never $now more than the outward seeming o" her li"e can hardl! measure# lunged against it and&&I can tell !ou no more. Her %lood and 6ats!,s shrie$ "rom the ad3oining room swam through m! consciousness# and then she "ell# as I su osed# dead u on the "loor# and I# in scarcel! %etter case# "ell also. 'This# as 2od lives# is the truth concerning the wound "ound in the %reast o" this never&to&%e&"orgotten woman.' The "eeling# the athos# the anguish even# to %e "ound in his tone made this stor!# strange and incredi%le as it seemed# a ear "or the moment lausi%le. 'And 6ats!-' as$ed the coroner. '.ust have "allen when we did# "or I never heard her voice a"ter the "irst scream. 6ut I shall s ea$ o" her again. +hat I must now e4 lain is how the mone! in .rs. +e%%,s drawer came into m! ossession# and how the dagger she had lanted in her %reast came to %e "ound on the lawn outside. +hen I came to m!sel"# and that must have %een ver! soon# I "ound that the %low o" which I had %een such a horri"ied witness had not !et roved "atal. The e!es I had seen close# as I had su osed# "orever# were now o en# and she was loo$ing at me with a smile that has never le"t m! memor!# and never will. ',There is no %lood on !ou#, she murmured. ,You did not stri$e the %low. +as it mone! onl! that !ou wanted# Frederic$- I" so# !ou could have had it without crime. There are "ive hundred dollars on that ta%le. Ta$e them and let them ave !our wa! to a %etter li"e. .! death will hel !ou to remem%er., /o these words# this action o" hers# seem incredi%le to !ou# sirs- Alas( alas( the! will not when I tell !ou'&&and here he cast one an4ious# dee l! an4ious# glance at the room in which .r. *utherland was hidden&&'that un$nown to me# un$nown to an!one living %ut hersel"# un$nown to that good man "rom whom it can no longer %e $e t hidden# Agatha +e%% was m! mother. I am 5hilemon,s son and not the o""s ring o" Charles and .arietta *utherland(' CCCI. A +ITNE** LO*T Im ossi%le( Incredi%le( Li$e a wave suddenl! li"ted the whole assem%lage rose in sur rise i" not in rotest. 6ut there was no out%urst. The ver! de th o" the "eelings evo$ed made all e%ullition im ossi%le# and as one sees the %illow ause ere it %rea$s# and graduall! su%side# so this crowd !ielded to its awe# and man %! man san$ %ac$ into his seat till 0uiet was again restored# and onl! a circle o" listening

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"aces con"ronted the man who had 3ust stirred a whole room"ul to its de ths. *eeing this# and realising his o ortunit!# Frederic$ at once entered into the e4 lanations "or which each heart there anted. 'This will %e overwhelming news to him who has cared "or me since in"anc!. You have heard him call me son) with what words shall I overthrow his con"idence in the truth and rectitude o" his long& %uried wi"e and ma$e him $now in his old age that he has wasted !ears o" atience u on one who was not o" his %lood or lineage- The wonder# the incredulit! !ou mani"est are m! %est e4cuse "or m! long dela! in revealing the secret entrusted to me %! this d!ing woman.' An awed silence greeted these words. Never was the interest o" a crowd more intense or its assions held in greater restraint. Yet Agnes,s tears "lowed "reel!# and Ama%el,s smiles&&well# their e4 ression had changed) and to *weetwater# who alone had e!es "or her now# the! were surcharged with a tragic meaning# strange to see in one o" her callous nature. Frederic$,s voice %ro$e as he roceeded in his sel"&im osed tas$. 'The astounding "act which I have 3ust communicated to !ou was made $nown %! m! mother# with the dagger still lunged in her %reast. *he would not let me draw it out. *he $new that death would "ollow that act# and she ri7ed ever! moment remaining to her %ecause o" the %liss she en3o!ed o" seeing and having near her her onl! living child. The love# the assion# the %oundless devotion she showed in those last "ew minutes trans"ormed me in an instant "rom a sel"ish %rute into a dee l! re entant man. I $nelt %e"ore her in anguish. I made her "eel that# wic$ed as I had %een# I was not the conscienceless wretch she had imagined# and that she was mista$en as to the motives which led me into her resence. And when I saw# %! her clearing %row and eace"ul loo$# that I had "ull! ersuaded her o" this# I let her s ea$ what words she would# and tell# as she was a%le# the secret traged! o" her li"e. 'It is a sacred stor! to me# and i" !ou must $now it# let it %e "rom her own words in the letters she le"t %ehind her. *he onl! told me that to save me "rom the "ate o" the children who had receded me# the "ive little girls and %o!s who had erished almost at %irth in her arms# she had arted "rom me in earl! in"anc! to .rs. *utherland# then mourning the sudden death o" her onl! child) that this had %een done secretl! and under circumstances calculated to deceive .r. *utherland# conse0uentl! he had never $nown I was not his own child# and in terror o" the e""ect which the truth might have u on him she en3oined me not to enlighten him now# i" %! an! sacri"ice on m! art I could right"ull! avoid it) that she was ha ! in having me hear the truth %e"ore she died) that the 3o! which this gave her was so great she did not regret her "atal act# violent and uncalled "or as it was# "or it had showed her m! heart and

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allowed me to read hers. Then she tal$ed o" m! "ather# %! whom I mean him whom !ou call 5hilemon) and she made me romise I would care "or him to the last with tenderness# sa!ing that I would %e a%le to do this without seeming im ro riet!# since she had willed me all her "ortune under this roviso. Finall!# she gave me a $e!# and ointing out where the mone! la! hidden# %ade me carr! it awa! as her last gi"t# together with the ac$age o" letters I would "ind with it. And when I had ta$en these and given her %ac$ the $e!# she told me that %ut "or one thing she would die ha !. And though her strength and %reath were "ast "ailing her# she made me understand that she was worried a%out the <a%els# who had not come according to a sacred custom %etween them# to cele%rate the anniversar! o" her wedding# and ra!ed me to see the two old gentlemen %e"ore I sle t# since nothing %ut death or dire distress would have $e t them "rom grati"!ing the one whim o" m! "ather,s "ailing mind. I romised# and with er"ect eace in her "ace# she ointed to the dagger in her %reast. '6ut %e"ore I could la! m! hand u on it she called "or 6ats!. ,I want her to hear me declare %e"ore I go#, said she# ,that this stro$e was delivered %! m!sel" u on m!sel"., 6ut when I rose to loo$ "or 6ats! I "ound that the shoc$ o" her mistress,s "atal act had $illed her and that onl! her dead %od! was l!ing across the window&sill o" the ad3oining room. It was a chance that ro%%ed me o" the onl! witness who could testi"! to m! innocence# in case m! resence in this house o" death should %ecome $nown# and realising all the danger in which it threw me# I did not dare to tell m! mother# "or "ear it would ma$e her last moments misera%le. *o I told her that the oor woman had understood what she wished# %ut was too terri"ied to move or s ea$) and this satis"ied m! mother and made her last %reath one o" trust and contented love. *he died as I drew the dagger "rom her %reast# and seeing this# I was sei7ed with horror o" the instrument which had cost me such a dear and valua%le li"e and "lung it wildl! "rom the window. Then I li"ted her and laid her where !ou "ound her# on the so"a. I did not $now that the dagger was an old&time gi"t o" her "ormer lover# 8ames <a%el# much less that it %ore his initials on the handle.' He aused# and the awe occasioned %! the scene he had descri%ed was so dee and the silence so rolonged that a shudder assed over the whole assem%lage when "rom some un$nown 0uarter a single cutting voice arose in this one short# moc$ing comment1 'Oh# the "air! tale(' +as it Ama%el who s o$e- *ome thought so and loo$ed her wa!# %ut the! onl! %eheld a sweet# tear&stained "ace turned with an air o" moving a eal u on Frederic$ as i" %egging ardon "or the wic$ed dou%ts which had driven him to this de"ence.

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Frederic$ met that loo$ with one so severe it artoo$ o" harshness) then# resuming his testimon!# he said1 'It is o" the <a%el %rothers I must now s ea$# and o" how one o" them# 8ames %! name# came to %e involved in this a""air. '+hen I le"t m! dead mother,s side I was in such a state o" mind that I assed with scarcel! so much as a glance the room where m! new&"ound "ather sat slee ing. 6ut as I hastened on toward the 0uarter where the <a%els lived# I was sei7ed %! such com unction "or his desolate state that I "altered in m! ra id "light and did not arrive at the lace o" m! destination as 0uic$l! as I intended. +hen I did I "ound the house dar$ and the silence se ulchral. 6ut I did not turn awa!. Remem%ering m! mother,s an4iet!# an an4iet! so e4treme it distur%ed her "inal moments# I a roached the "ront door and was a%out to $noc$ when I "ound it o en. 2reatl! astonished# I at once assed in# and# seeing m! wa! er"ectl! in the moonlight# entered the room on the le"t# the door o" which also stood o en. It was the second house I had entered unannounced that night# and in this as in the other I encountered a man sitting aslee %! the ta%le. 'It was 8ohn# the elder o" the two# and# erceiving that he was su""ering "or "ood and in a condition o" e4treme miser!# I too$ out the "irst %ill m! hand encountered in m! over"ull oc$ets and laid it on the ta%le %! his side. As I did so he gave a sigh# %ut did not wa$e) and satis"ied that I had done all that was wise and all that even m! mother would e4 ect o" me under the circumstances# and "earing to encounter the other %rother i" I lingered# I hastened awa! and too$ the shortest ath home. Had I %een more o" a man# or i" m! visit to .rs. +e%% had %een actuated %! a more communica%le motive# I would have gone at once to the good man who %elieved me to %e o" his own "lesh and %lood# and told him o" the strange and heart&rending adventure which had changed the whole tenor o" m! thoughts and li"e# and %egged his advice as to what I had %etter do under the di""icult circumstances in which I "ound m!sel" laced. 6ut the memor! o" a thousand ast ingratitudes# together with the $nowledge o" the shoc$ which he could not "ail to receive on learning at this late da!# and under conditions at once so tragic and "ull o" menace# that the child which his long&%uried wi"e had once laced in his arms as his own was neither o" her %lood nor his# rose u %etween us and caused me not onl! to attem t silence# %ut to secrete in the ad3oining woods the mone! I had received# in the vain ho e that all visi%le connection %etween m!sel" and m! mother,s tragic death would thus %e lost. You see I had not calculated on .iss Ama%el 5age.' The "lash he here received "rom that lad!,s e!es startled the crowd# and gave *weetwater# alread! su""ering under shoc$ a"ter shoc$ o" mingled sur rise and wonder# his "irst de"inite idea that he had never rightl! understood the relations %etween these two# and that something %esides 3ustice had actuated

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Ama%el in her treatment o" this !oung man. This "eeling was shared %! others# and a reaction set in in Frederic$,s "avour# which even a""ected the o""icials who were conducting the in0uir!. This was shown %! the di""erence o" manner now assumed %! the coroner and %! the more easil! im ressed *weetwater# who had not !et learned the indis ensa%le art o" hiding his "eelings. Frederic$ himsel" "elt the change and showed it %! the loo$ o" relie" and growing con"idence he cast at Agnes. O" the 0uestions and answers which now assed %etween him and the various mem%ers o" the 3ur! I need give no account. The! %ut em hasised "acts alread! $nown# and roduced %ut little change in the general "eeling# which was now one o" su ressed it! "or all who had %een drawn into the meshes o" this tragic m!ster!. +hen he was allowed to resume his seat# the name o" .iss Ama%el 5age was again called. *he rose with a %ound. Nought that she had antici ated had occurred) "acts o" which she could $now nothing had changed the as ect o" a""airs and made the osition o" Frederic$ something so remote "rom an! she could have imagined# that she was still in the ma7e o" the num%erless con"licting emotions which these revelations were calculated to call out in one who had ris$ed all on the ha7ard o" a die and lost. *he did not even $now at this moment whether she was glad or sorr! he could e4 lain so cleverl! his anomalous osition. *he had caught the loo$ he had cast at Agnes# and while this angered her# it did not greatl! modi"! her o inion that he was destined "or hersel". For# however other eo le might "eel# she did not "or a moment %elieve his stor!. *he had not a ure enough heart to do so. To her all sel"&sacri"ice was an anomal!. No woman o" the mental or h!sical strength o" Agatha +e%% would lant a dagger in her own %reast 3ust to revent another erson "rom committing a crime# were he lover# hus%and# or son. *o Ama%el %elieved and so would these others %elieve also when once relieved o" the magnetic ersonalit! o" this e4traordinar! witness. Yet how thrilling it had %een to hear him lead his cause so well( It was almost worth the loss o" her revenge to meet his loo$ o" hate# and dream o" the ossi%ilit! o" turning it later into the old loo$ o" love. Yes# !es# she loved him now) not "or his osition# "or that was gone) not even "or his mone!# "or she could contem late its loss) %ut "or himsel"# who had so %oldl! shown that he was stronger than she and could trium h over her %! the sheer "orce o" his masculine daring. +ith such "eelings# what should she sa! to these men) how conduct hersel" under 0uestions which would %e much more searching now than %e"ore- *he could not even decide in her own mind. *he must let im ulse have its wa!. Ha il!# she too$ the right stand at "irst. *he did not endeavour to ma$e an! corrections in her "ormer testimon!# onl! ac$nowledging that the "lower whose resence on the scene o" death had %een such a m!ster!# had "allen "rom her hair at the %all and that she had seen Frederic$ ic$ it u and ut it in his

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%uttonhole. 6e!ond this# and the in"erences it a"terward awa$ened in her mind# she would not go# though man! resent# and among them Frederic$# "elt con"ident that her attitude had %een one o" sus icion "rom the "irst# and that it was to "ollow him rather than to su l! the wants o" the old man# <a%el# she had le"t the %all and "ound her wa! to Agatha +e%%,s cottage. CCCII. +HY A2ATHA *>THERLAN/TO+N +E66 +ILL NE=ER 6E FOR2OTTEN IN

.eanwhile *weetwater had %een witness to a series o" antomimic actions that interested him more than Ama%el,s conduct under this "inal e4amination. Frederic$# who had evidentl! some re0uest to ma$e or direction to give# had sent a written line to the coroner# who# on reading it# had assed it over to 9na # who a "ew minutes later was to %e seen in con"erence with Agnes Hallida!. As a result# the latter rose and le"t the room# "ollowed %! the detective. *he was gone a hal"&hour# then simultaneousl! with her rea earance# *weetwater saw 9na hand a %undle o" letters to the coroner# who# u on o ening them# chose out several which he roceeded to read to the 3ur!. The! were the letters re"erred to %! Frederic$ as having %een given to him %! his mother. The "irst was dated thirt!&"ive !ears reviousl! and was in the handwriting o" Agatha hersel". It was directed to 8ames <a%el# and was read amid a ro"ound hush. /EAR 8A.E*1 You are too resum tuous. +hen I let !ou carr! me awa! "rom 8ohn in that maddening reel last night# I did not mean !ou to draw the in"erence !ou did. That !ou did draw it argues a touch o" vanit! in a man who is not alone in the "ield where he imagines himsel" victor. 8ohn# who is hum%ler# sees some merit in&&well# in Frederic$ *now# let us sa!. *o do I# %ut merit does not alwa!s win# an! more than resum tion. +hen we meet# let it %e as "riends# %ut as "riends onl!. A girl cannot %e driven into love. To ride on !our %ig mare# 8udith# is %liss enough "or m! twent! !ears. +h! don,t !ou "ind it so too- I thin$ I hear !ou sa! !ou do# %ut onl! when she sto s at a certain gate on 5ortchester highwa!. Foll!( there are other roads and other gates# though i" I should see !ou enter one&&There( m! en is gallo ing awa! with me "aster than 8udith ever did# and it is time I drew rein. 5resent m! regards to 8ohn&&6ut no) then he would $now I had written !ou a letter# and that might hurt him. How could he guess it was onl! a scolding letter# such as it would grieve him to receive# and that it does not count "or an!thing( +ere it to Frederic$ *now# now&& There( some horses are so hard to ull u &&and so are some ens. I will come to a standstill# %ut not %e"ore !our door. Res ect"ull! !our neigh%our# A2ATHA 2ILCHRI*T.

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/EAR 8A.E*1 I $now I have a tem er# a wic$ed tem er# and now !ou $now it too. +hen it is roused# I "orget love# gratitude# and ever!thing else that should restrain me# and utter words I am m!sel" astonished at. 6ut I do not get roused o"ten# and when all is over I am not averse to a ologising or even to %egging "orgiveness. .! "ather sa!s m! tem er will undo me# %ut I am much more a"raid o" m! heart than I am o" m! tem er. For instance# here I am writing to !ou again 3ust %ecause I raised m! riding&whi and said&&6ut !ou $now what I said# and I am not "ond o" recalling the words# "or I cannot do so without seeing !our loo$ o" sur rise and contrasting it with that o" 5hilemon,s. Yours had 3udgment in it# while 5hilemon,s held onl! indulgence. Yet I li$ed !ours %est# or should have li$ed it %est i" it were not "or the insu""era%le ride which is a art o" m! %eing. Tem er such as mine O>2HT to sur rise !ou# !et would I %e Agatha 2ilchrist without it- I ver! much "ear not. And not %eing Agatha 2ilchrist# should I have !our love- Again I "ear not. 8ames# "orgive me. +hen I am ha ier# when I $now m! own heart# I will have less rovocation. Then# i" that heart turns !our wa!# !ou will "ind a great and %ounti"ul serenit! where now there are lowering and thunderous tem ests. 5hilemon said last night that he would %e content to have m! "ierce word o, mornings# i" onl! I would give him one dro out o" the hone! o" m! %etter nature when the sun went down and twilight %rought re"lection and love. 6ut I did not li$e him an! the %etter "or sa!ing this. YO> would not halve the da! so. The cu with which !ou would re"resh !oursel" must hold no %itterness. +ill it not have to %e ro""ered# then# %! other hands than those o" A2ATHA 2ILCHRI*T.R. 5HILE.ON +E66. Res ected *ir1 You are ersistent. I am willing to tell YO># though I shall never con"ide so much to another# that it will ta$e a stronger nature than !ours# and one that loves me less# to hold me "aith"ul and ma$e me the ha !# devoted wi"e which I must %e i" I would not %e a demon. I cannot# I dare not# marr! where I am not held in a assionate# sel"& "orget"ul su%3ection. I am too roud# too sensitive# too little mistress o" m!sel" when angr! or aroused. I"# li$e some strong women# I loved what was wea$er than m!sel"# and could %e controlled %! goodness and unlimited $indness# I might venture to ris$ living at the side o" the most indulgent and u right man I $now. 6ut I am not o" that $ind. *trength onl! can command m! admiration or su%due m! ride. I must "ear where I love# and own "or hus%and him who has "irst shown himsel" m! master.

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*o do not "ret an! more "or me# "or !ou# less than an! man I $now# will ever claim m! o%edience or command m! love. Not that I will not !ield m! heart to !ou# %ut that I cannot) and# $nowing that I cannot# "eel it honest to sa! so %e"ore an! more o" !our "ine# !oung manhood is wasted. 2o !our wa!s# then# 5hilemon# and leave me to the rougher aths m! "eet were made to tread. I li$e !ou now and "eel something li$e a tender regard "or !our goodness# %ut i" !ou ersist in a courtshi which onl! m! "ather is inclined to smile u on# !ou will call u an antagonism that can lead to nothing %ut evil# "or the ser ent that lies coiled in m! %reast has deadl! "angs# and is to %e "eared# as !ou should $now who have more than once seen me angr!. /o not %lame 8ohn or 8ames <a%el# or Frederic$ *now# or even *amuel 6arton "or this. It would %e the same i" none o" these men e4isted. I was not made to trium h over a $indl! nature# %ut to !ield the haughtiest heart in all this count! to the gentle %ut "irm control o" its natural master. /o !ou want to $now who that master is- I cannot tell !ou# "or I have not !et named him to m!sel". /EAR 8A.E*1 I am going awa!. I am going to leave 5ortchester "or several months. I am going to see the world. I did not tell !ou this last night "or "ear o" wea$ening under !our entreaties# or should I sa! commands- Latel! I have "elt m!sel" wea$ening more than once# and I want to $now what it means. A%sence will teach me# a%sence and the sight o" new "aces. /o !ou 0uarrel with this necessit!- /o !ou thin$ I should $now m! mind without an! such test- Alas( 8ames# it is not a sim le mind and it %a""les me at times. Let us then give it a chance. I" the glow and glamour o" elegant cit! li"e can ma$e me "orget certain snatches o" tal$ at our old gate# or that night when !ou drew m! hand through !our arm and so"tl! $issed m! "ingerti s# then I am no mate "or !ou# whose love# however critical# has never wavered# %ut has made itsel" "elt# even in re%u$e# as the strongest# sweetest thing that has entered m! tur%ulent li"e. 6ecause I would %e worth! o" !ou# I su%mit to a se aration which will either %e a ermanent one or the last that will ever ta$e lace %etween !ou and me. 8ohn will not %ear this as well as !ou# !et he does not love me as well# ossi%l! %ecause to him I am sim l! a su erior %eing# while to !ou I am a loving %ut im er"ect woman who wishes to do right %ut can onl! do so under the highest guidance. /EAR 8OHN1 I "eel that I owe !ou a letter %ecause !ou have %een so atient. You ma! show it to 8ames i" !ou li$e# %ut I mean it "or !ou as an old and dear "riend who will one da! dance at m! wedding.

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I am living in a whirl o" en3o!ment. I am seeing and tasting o" leasures I have onl! dreamed a%out till now. From a "armhouse $itchen to .rs. Andrews,s drawing&room is a livel! change "or a girl who loves dress and show onl! less than dail! intercourse with "amous men and %rilliant women. 6ut I am %earing it no%l! and have develo ed tastes I did not $now I ossessed) e4 ensive tastes# 8ohn# which I "ear ma! un"it me "or the hum%le li"e o" a 5ortchester matron. Can !ou imagine me dressed in rich %rocade# sitting in the midst o" +ashington,s choicest citi7ens and e4changing sallies with senators and 3udges- You ma! "ind it hard# !et so it is# and no one seems to thin$ I am out o" lace# nor do I "eel so# onl!&&do not tell 8ames&&there are movements in m! heart at times which ma$e me shut m! e!es when the lights are %rightest# and dream# i" %ut "or an instant# o" home and the tum%le&down gatewa! where I have so o"ten leaned when someone :!ou $now who it is now# 8ohn# and I shall not hurt !ou too dee l! %! mentioning him; was sa!ing good&night and calling down the %lessings o" Heaven u on a head not worth! to receive them. /oes this argue m! s eed! return- 5erha s. Yet I do not $now. There are "ond hearts here also# and a li"e in this countr!,s centre would %e a great li"e "or me i" onl! I could "orget the touch o" a certain restraining hand which has great ower over me even as a memor!. For the sa$e o" that touch shall I give u the grandeur and charm o" this %road li"e- Answer# 8ohn. You $now him and me well enough now to sa!. /EAR 8OHN1 I do not understand !our letter. You s ea$ in a""ectionate terms o" ever!%od!# !et !ou %eg me to wait and not %e in a hurr! to return. +h!- /o !ou not realise that such words onl! ma$e me the more an4ious to see old 5ortchester again- I" there is an!thing amiss at home# or i" 8ames is learning to do without me&&%ut !ou do not sa! that) !ou onl! intimate that erha s I will %e %etter a%le to ma$e u m! mind later than now# and hint o" great things to come i" I will onl! hold m! a""ections in chec$ a little longer. This is all ver! am%iguous and demands a "uller e4 lanation. *o write to me once more# 8ohn# or I shall sever ever! engagement I have made here and return. /EAR 8OHN1 Your letter is lain enough this time. 8ames read the letter I wrote !ou a%out m! leasure in the li"e here and was dis leased at it. He thin$s I am growing worldl! and losing that sim licit! which he has alwa!s loo$ed u on as m! most attractive characteristic. *o( so( +ell# 8ames is right) I am %ecoming less the countr! girl and more the woman o" the world ever! da! I remain here. That means I am %ecoming less worth! o" him. *o&&6ut whatever else I have to sa! on this to ic must %e said to him. For this !ou will ardon me li$e the

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good %rother !ou are. I cannot hel m! %esides# we were made "or each other. /EAR 8A.E*1

re"erence. He is nearer m! own age)

I am not worldl!) I am not carried awa! %! the leasures and satis"actions o" this lace#&&at least not to the oint o" "orgetting what is dearer and %etter. I have seen +ashington# I have seen ga! li"e) I li$e it# %ut I LO=E 5ortchester. Conse0uentl! I am going to return to 5ortchester# and that ver! soon. Indeed I cannot sta! awa! much longer# and i" !ou are glad o" this# and i" !ou wish to %e convinced that a girl who has %een wearing %rocade and 3ewels can content hersel" 0uite gail! again with calico# come u to the dear old gate a wee$ "rom now and !ou will have the o ortunit!. /o !ou o%3ect to "lowers- I ma! wear a "lower in m! hair. Your wa!ward %ut ever&constant A2ATHA. /EAR 8A.E*1 +h! must I write- +h! am I not content with the memor! o" last night- +hen one,s cu is 0uite "ull# a cu that has %een so long in "illing#&&must some "ew dro s esca e 3ust to show that a great 3o! li$e mine is not satis"ied to %e sim l! 0uiescent- I have su""ered so long "rom uncertaint!# have tried !ou and tried m!sel" with so tedious an indecision# that# now I $now no other man can ever move m! heart as !ou have done# the ecstas! o" it ma$es me over&demonstrative. I want to tell !ou that I love !ou) that I do not sim l! acce t !our love# %ut give !ou %ac$ in "ullest measure all the devotion !ou have hea ed u on me in s ite o" m! man! "aults and "ailings. You too$ me to !our heart last night# and seemed satis"ied) %ut it does not satis"! me that I 3ust let !ou do it without telling !ou that I am roud and ha ! to %e the chosen one o" !our heart# and that as I saw !our smile and the roud assion which lit u !our "ace# I "elt how much sweeter was the dear domestic %liss !ou romised me than the more %rilliant %ut colder li"e o" a statesman,s wi"e in +ashington. I missed the "lower "rom m! hair when I went %ac$ to m! room last night. /id !ou ta$e it# dear- I" so# do not cherish it. I hate to thin$ o" an!thing withering on !our %reast. .! love is deathless# 8ames# and owns no such s!m%ol as that. 6ut erha s !ou are not thin$ing o" m! love# %ut o" m! "aults. I" so# let the "lower remain where !ou have ut it) and when !ou ga7e on it sa!# 'Thus is it with the de"ects o" m! darling) once in "ull %loom# now a withered remem%rance. +hen I gathered her the! %egan to "ade.' O 8ames# I "eel as i" I never could "eel anger again. /EAR 8A.E*1

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I do not# I cannot# %elieve it. Though !ou said to me on going out# 'Your "ather will e4 lain#' I cannot content m!sel" with his e4 lanations and will never %elieve what he said o" !ou e4ce t !ou con"irm his accusations %! !our own act. I"# a"ter I have told !ou e4actl! what assed %etween us# !ou return me this and other letters# then I shall $now that I have leaned m! weight on a hollow sta""# and that hence"orth I am to %e without rotector or com"orter in this world. O 8ames# were we not ha !( I %elieved in !ou and "elt that !ou %elieved in me. +hen we stood heart to heart under the elm tree :was it onl! last night-; and !ou swore that i" it la! in the ower o" earthl! man to ma$e me ha !# I should taste ever! sweet that a woman,s heart naturall! craved# I thought m! heaven had alread! come and that now it onl! remained "or me to create !ours. Yet that ver! minute m! "ather was a roaching us# and in another instant we heard these words1 '8ames# I must tal$ with !ou %e"ore !ou ma$e m! daughter "orget hersel" an! "urther.' Forget hersel"( +hat had ha ened- This was not the wa! m! "ather had %een accustomed to tal$# much as he had alwa!s "avoured the suit o" 5hilemon +e%%# and leased as he would have %een had m! choice "allen on him. Forget hersel"( I loo$ed at !ou to see how these insulting words would a""ect !ou. 6ut while !ou turned ale# or seemed to do so in the "ading moonlight# !ou were not 0uite so un re ared "or them as I was m!sel"# and instead o" showing anger# "ollowed m! "ather into the house# leaving me shivering in a s ot which had held no chill "or me a moment %e"ore. You were gone&&how long- To me it seemed an hour# and erha s it was. It would seem to ta$e that long "or a man,s "ace to show such change as !ours did when !ou con"ronted me again in the moonlight. Yet a lightning stro$e ma$es 0uic$ wor$# and erha s m! countenance in that one minute showed as great a change as !ours. Else wh! did !ou shudder awa! "rom me# and to m! assionate a eal re l! with this one short hrase1 'Your "ather will e4 lain'- /id !ou thin$ an! other words than !ours would satis"! me# or that I could %elieve even him when he accused !ou o" a %ase and dishonest act- .uch as I have alwa!s loved and revered m! "ather# I "ind it im ossi%le not to ho e that in his wish to see me united to 5hilemon he has resorted to an unworth! su%ter"uge to se arate us) there"ore I give !ou our interview word "or word. .a! it shoc$ !ou as much as it shoc$ed me. Here is what he said "irst1 'Agatha# !ou cannot marr! 8ames <a%el. He is not an honest man. He has de"rauded me# .E# !our "ather# o" several thousand dollars. In a clever wa!# too# showing him to %e as su%tle as he is un rinci led. *hall I tell !ou the wretched stor!# m! girl- He has le"t me to do so. He sees as lainl! as I do that an! communication %etween !ou two a"ter the discover! I have this da! made would %e %ut an added o""ence. He is at least a gentleman# which is something# considering how near he came to %eing m! son& in&law.'

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I ma! have answered. 5eo le do cr! out when the! are sta%%ed# sometimes# %ut I rather thin$ I did not sa! a word# onl! loo$ed a disdain which at that minute was as measureless as m! %elie" in !ou. YO> dishonest- YO>&&Or erha s I laughed) that would have %een truer to m! "eeling) !es# I must have laughed. .! "ather,s ne4t words indicated that I did something. 'You do not %elieve in his guilt#' he went on# and there was a $indness in his tone which gave me m! "irst "eeling o" real terror. 'I can readil! com rehend that# Agatha. He has %een in m! o""ice and acted under m! e!e "or several !ears now# and I had almost as much con"idence in him as !ou had# notwithstanding the "act that I li$ed him much %etter as m! con"idential cler$ than as !our ro%a%le or ros ective hus%and. He has never held the $e! to m! heart) would 2od he never had to !ours( 6ut he was a good and relia%le man in the o""ice# or so I thought# and I gave into his hand much o" the wor$ I ought to have done m!sel"# es eciall! since m! health has more or less "ailed me. .! trust he a%used. A month ago&&it was during that ill turn !ou remem%er I received a letter "rom a man I had never e4 ected to hear "rom again. He was in m! de%t some ten thousand dollars# and wrote that he had %rought with him as much o" this sum as he had %een a%le to save in the last "ive !ears# to *utherlandtown# where he was now laid u with a dangerous illness "rom which he had small ho e o" recovering. +ould I come there and get it- He was a stranger and wished to ta$e no one into his con"idence# %ut he had the mone! and would %e glad to lace it in m! hands. He added that as he was a lone man# without "riends or relatives to inherit "rom him# he "elt a decided leasure at the ros ect o" satis"!ing his onl! creditor# and devoutl! ho ed he would %e well enough to realise the transaction and receive m! recei t. 6ut i" his "ever increased and he should %e delirious or unconscious when I reached him# then I was to li"t u the le"t&hand corner o" the mattress on which he la! and ta$e "rom underneath his head a %lac$ wallet in which I would "ind the mone! romised me. He had elsewhere enough to a! all his e4 enses# so that the "ull contents o" the wallet were mine. 'I remem%ered the man and I wanted the mone!) so# not %eing a%le to go "or it m!sel"# I authorised 8ames <a%el to collect it "or me. He started at once "or *utherlandtown# and in a "ew hours returned with the wallet alluded to. Though I was su""ering intensel! at the time# I remem%er distinctl! the air with which he laid it down and the words with which he endeavoured to carr! o"" a certain secret e4citement visi%le in him. ,.r. Orr was alive# sir# and "ull! conscious) %ut he will not outlive the night. He seemed 0uite satis"ied with the messenger and gave u the wallet without an! hesitation., I roused u and loo$ed at him. ,+hat has sha$en !ou u so-, I as$ed. He was silent a moment %e"ore re l!ing. ,I have ridden "ast#, said he) then more slowl!# ,One "eels sorr! "or a man d!ing alone and amongst strangers., I thought he showed an unnecessar! emotion# %ut aid no "urther heed to it at the time.

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'The wallet held two thousand and more dollars# which was less than I e4 ected# %ut !et a goodl! sum and ver! welcome. As I was counting it over I glanced at the a er accom an!ing it. It was an ac$nowledgment o" de%t and mentioned the e4act sum I should "ind in the wallet&&JIKBE.LK. 5ointing them out to 8ames# I remar$ed# ,The "igures are in di""erent in$ "rom the words. How do !ou account "or that-, I thought his answer rather long in coming# though when it did come it was calm# i" not studied. ,I resume#, said he# ,that the sum was inserted at *utherlandtown# a"ter .r. Orr was 0uite sure 3ust how much he could s are "or the li0uidation o" this old de%t., ,=er! li$el!#, I assented# not %estowing another thought u on the matter. '6ut to&da! it has %een "orced %ac$ u on m! attention in a curious i" not rovidential wa!. I was over in *utherlandtown "or the "irst time since m! illness# and having some curiosit! a%out m! un"ortunate %ut honest de%tor# went to the hotel and as$ed to see the room in which he died. It %eing em t! the! at once showed it to me) and satis"ied that he had %een made com"orta%le in his last hours# I was turning awa!# when I es ied on a ta%le in one corner an in$stand and what seemed to %e an old co !&%oo$. +h! I sto ed and a roached this ta%le I do not $now# %ut once in "ront o" it I remem%ered what <a%el had said a%out the "igures# and ta$ing u the en I saw there# I di ed it in the in$& ot and attem ted to scri%%le a num%er or two on a iece o" loose a er I "ound in the co !&%oo$. The in$ was thic$ and the en corroded# so that it was not till a"ter several ine""ectual e""orts that I succeeded in ma$ing an! stro$es that were at all legi%le. 6ut when I did# the! were so e4actl! similar in colour to the num%ers inserted in .r. Orr,s memorandum :which I had "ortunatel! %rought with me; that I was instantl! satis"ied this es ecial ortion o" the writing had %een done# as 8ames had said# in this room# and with the ver! en I was then handling. As there was nothing e4traordinar! in this# I was turning awa!# when a gust o" wind "rom the o en window li"ted the loose sheet o" a er I had %een scri%%ling on and landed it# the other side u # on the car et. As I stoo ed "or it I saw "igures on it# and "eeling sure that the! had %een scrawled there %! .r. Orr in his attem t to ma$e the en write# I ulled out the memorandum again and com ared the two minutel!. The! were the wor$ o" the same hand# %ut the "igures on the stra! lea" di""ered "rom those in the memorandum in a ver! im ortant articular. Those in the memorandum %egan with a I# while those on the stra! sheet %egan with a K&&a stri$ing di""erence. Loo$# Agatha# here is the iece o" a er 3ust as I "ound it. You see here# there# and ever!where the one set o" "igures# KKBE.LK. Here it is hardl! legi%le# here it is %lotted with too much in$# here it is "aint %ut su""icientl! distinct# and here&&well# there can %e no mista$e a%out these "igures# KKBE.LK) !et the memorandum reads# JIKBE.LK# and the mone! returned to me amounts to JIKBE.LK&&a clean "ive thousand dollars, di""erence.' Here# 8ames# m! "ather aused# erha s to give me a commiserating loo$# though I did not need it) erha s to give himsel" a moment in which to regain

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courage "or what he still had to sa!. I did not %rea$ the silence) I was too sure o" !our integrit!) %esides# m! tongue could not have moved i" it would) all m! "aculties seemed "ro7en e4ce t that instinct which cried out continuall! within me1 'No( there is no "ault in 8ames. He has done no wrong. No one %ut himsel" shall ever convince me that he has ro%%ed an!one o" an!thing e4ce t oor me o" m! oor heart.' 6ut inner cries o" this $ind are inaudi%le and a"ter a moment,s interval m! "ather went on1 'Five thousand dollars is no ett! sum# and the discre anc! in the two sets o" "igures which seemed to involve me in so considera%le a loss set me thin$ing. Convinced that .r. Orr would not %e li$el! to scri%%le one num%er over so man! times i" it was not the one then in his mind# I went to .r. Fors!th,s o""ice and %orrowed a magni"!ing&glass# through which I again su%3ected the "igures in the memorandum to a rigid scrutin!. The result was a ositive conviction that the! had %een tam ered with a"ter their "irst writing# either %! .r. Orr himsel" or %! another whom I need not name. The I had originall! %een a K# and I could even see where the to line o" the K had %een given a curl and where a hori7ontal stro$e had %een added at the %ottom. 'Agatha# I came home as trou%led a man as there was in all these arts. I remem%ered the su ressed e4citement which had %een in 8ames <a%el,s "ace when he handed me over the mone!# and I remem%ered also that !ou loved him# or thought !ou did# and that# love or no love# !ou were ledged to marr! him. I" I had not recalled all this I might have roceeded more waril!. As it was# I too$ the %old and o en course and gave 8ames <a%el an o ortunit! to e4 lain himsel". Agatha# he did not em%race it. He listened to m! accusations and "ollowed m! "inger when I ointed out the discre anc! %etween the two sets o" "igures# %ut he made no rotestations o" innocence# nor did he show me the "ront o" an honest man when I as$ed i" he e4 ected me to %elieve that the wallet had held onl! two thousand and over when .r. Orr handed it over to him. On the contrar! he seemed to shrin$ into himsel" li$e a erson whose li"e has %een suddenl! %lasted# and re l!ing that he would e4 ect me to %elieve nothing e4ce t his e4treme contrition at the a%use o" con"idence o" which he had %een guilt!# %egged me to wait till to&morrow %e"ore ta$ing an! active ste s in the matter. I re lied that I would show him that much consideration i" he would immediatel! dro all retensions to !our hand. This ut him in a %ad wa!) %ut he le"t# as !ou see# with 3ust a sim le in3unction to !ou to see$ "rom me an e4 lanation o" his strange de arture. /oes that loo$ li$e innocence or does it loo$ li$e guilt-' I "ound m! tongue at this and assionatel! cried1 '8ames <a%el,s li"e# as I have $nown it# shows him to %e an honest man. I" he has done what !ou suggest# given !ou %ut a ortion o" the mone! entrusted to him and altered the "igures in the memorandum to suit the amount he %rought !ou# then there is a discre anc! %etween this act and all the other acts o" his li"e which I "ind it more di""icult to reconcile than !ou did the two sets o" "igures in .r. Orr,s

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handwriting. Father# I must hear "rom his own li s a con"irmation o" !our sus icions %e"ore I will credit them.' And this is wh! I write !ou so minute an account o" what assed %etween m! "ather and m!sel" last night. I" his account o" the matter is a correct one# and !ou have nothing to add to it in wa! o" e4 lanation# then the return o" this letter will %e to$en enough that m! "ather has %een 3ust in his accusations and that the %ond %etween us must %e %ro$en. 6ut i"&&O 8ames# i" !ou are the true man I consider !ou# and all that I have heard is a "a%rication or mista$e# then come to me at once) do not dela!# %ut come at once# and the sight o" !our "ace at the gate will %e enough to esta%lish !our innocence in m! e!es. A2ATHA. The letter that "ollowed this was ver! short1 /EAR 8A.E*1 The ac$age o" letters has %een received. 2od hel me to %ear this shoc$ to all m! ho es and the death o" all m! girlish %elie"s. I am not angr!. Onl! those who have something le"t to hold on to in li"e can %e angr!. .! "ather tells me he has received a ac$et too. It contained "ive thousand dollars in ten "ive&hundred&dollar notes. 8ames( 8ames( was not m! love enough# that !ou should want m! "ather,s mone! tooI have %egged m! "ather# and he has romised me# to $ee the cause o" this ru ture secret. No one shall $now "rom either o" us that 8ames <a%el has an! "law in his nature. The ne4t letter was dated some months later. It is to 5hilemon1 /EAR 5HILE.ON1 The gloves are too small) %esides# I never wear gloves. I hate their restraint and do not "eel there is an! good reason "or hiding m! hands# in this little countr! town where ever!one $nows me. +h! not give them to Hattie +eller- *he li$es such things# while I have had m! "ill o" "iner!. A girl whose one dut! is to care "or a d!ing "ather has no room le"t in her heart "or vanities. /EAR 5HILE.ON1 It is im ossi%le. I have had m! da! o" love and m! heart is 0uite dead. *how !our magnanimit! %! ceasing to urge me an! longer to "orget the ast. It is all !ou can do "or A2ATHA.

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/EAR 5HILE.ON1 You +ILL have m! hand though I have told !ou that m! heart does not go with it. It is hard to understand such ersistence# %ut i" !ou are satis"ied to ta$e a woman o" m! strength against her will# then 2od have merc! u on !ou# "or I will %e !our wi"e. 6ut do not as$ me to go to *utherlandtown. I will live here. And do not e4 ect to $ee u !our intimac! with the <a%els. There is no tie o" a""ection remaining %etween 8ames and m!sel"# %ut i" I am to shed that hal"&light over !our home which is all I can romise and all that !ou can ho e to receive# then $ee me "rom all in"luence %ut !our own. That this in time ma! grow sweet and dear to me is m! earnest ra!er to& da!# "or !ou are worth! o" a true wi"e. A2ATHA. /EAR 8OHN1 I am going to %e married. .! "ather e4acts it and there is no good reason wh! I should not give him this "inal satis"action. At least I do not thin$ there is) %ut i" !ou or !our %rother di""er "rom me&& *a! good&%!e to 8ames "rom me. I ra! that his li"e ma! %e eace"ul. I $now that it will %e honest. A2ATHA. /EAR 5HILE.ON1 .! "ather is worse. He "ears that i" we wait till Tuesda! he will not %e a%le to see us married. /ecide# then# what our dut! is) I am read! to a%ide %! !our leasure. A2ATHA. The "ollowing is "rom 8ohn <a%el to his %rother 8ames# and is dated one da! a"ter the a%ove1 /EAR 8A.E*1 +hen !ou read this I will %e "ar awa!# never to loo$ in !our "ace again# unless !ou %id me. 6rother# %rother# I meant it "or the %est# %ut 2od was not with me and I have made "our hearts misera%le without giving hel to an!one.

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+hen I read Agatha,s letter&&the last "or more reasons than one that I shall ever receive "rom her&&I seemed to "eel as never %e"ore what I had done to %last !our two lives. For the "irst time I realised to the "ull that %ut "or me she might have %een ha ! and !ou the res ected hus%and o" the one grand woman to %e "ound in 5ortchester. That I had loved her so "iercel! m!sel" came %ac$ to me in re roach# and the thought that she erha s sus ected that the %lame had "allen where it was not deserved roused me to such a itch that I too$ the sudden and des erate resolution o" telling her the truth %e"ore she gave her hand to 5hilemon. +h! the dail! sight o" !our miser! should not have driven me %e"ore to this act# I cannot tell. *ome remnants o" the old 3ealous! ma! have %een still "estering in m! heart) or the sense o" the great distance %etween !our sel"&sacri"icing s irit and the sel"ishness o" m! wea$er nature risen li$e a %arrier %etween me and the onl! no%le act le"t "or a man in m! osition. +hatever the cause# it was not till to&da! the "ull determination came to %rave the o%lo0u! o" a "ull con"ession) %ut when it did come I did not ause till I reached .r. 2ilchrist,s house and was ushered into his resence. He was l!ing on the sitting&room lounge# loo$ing ver! wea$ and e4hausted# while on one side o" him stood Agatha and on the other 5hilemon# %oth contem lating him with ill&concealed an4iet!. I had not e4 ected to "ind 5hilemon there# and "or a moment I su""ered the e4treme agon! o" a man who has not measured the de th o" the lunge he is a%out to ta$e) %ut the sight o" Agatha trem%ling under the shoc$ o" m! une4 ected resence restored me to m!sel" and gave me "irmness to roceed. Advancing with a %ow# I s o$e 0uic$l! the one word I had come there to sa!. 'Agatha# I have done !ou a great wrong and I am here to undo it. For months I have "elt driven to con"ession# %ut not till to&da! have I ossessed the necessar! courage. NO+# nothing shall hinder me.' I said this %ecause I saw in %oth .r. 2ilchrist and 5hilemon a dis osition to sto me where I was. Indeed .r. 2ilchrist had risen on his el%ow and 5hilemon was ma$ing that leading gesture o" his which we $now so well. Agatha alone loo$ed eager. '+hat is it-' she cried. 'I have a right to $now.' I went to the door# shut it# and stood with m! %ac$ against it# a "igure o" shame and des air) suddenl! the con"ession %urst "rom me. 'Agatha#' said I# 'wh! did !ou %rea$ with m! %rother 8ames- 6ecause !ou thought him guilt! o" the"t) %ecause !ou %elieved he too$ the "ive thousand dollars out o" the sum entrusted to him %! .r. Orr "or !our "ather. Agatha# it was not 8ames who did this it was I) and 8ames $new it# and %ore the %lame o" m! misdoing %ecause he was alwa!s a lo!al soul and too$ account o" m! wea$ness and $new# alas( too well# that o en shame would $ill me.'

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It was a wea$ lea and merited no re l!. 6ut the silence was so dread"ul and lasted so long that I "elt "irst crushed and then terri"ied. Raising m! head# "or I had not dared to loo$ an! o" them in the "ace# I cast one glance at the grou %e"ore me and dro ed m! head again# startled. Onl! one o" the three was loo$ing at me# and that was Agatha. The others had their heads turned aside# and I thought# or rather the assing "anc! too$ me# that the! shran$ "rom meeting her ga7e with something o" the same shame and dread I m!sel" "elt. 6ut she( Can I ever ho e to ma$e !ou realise her loo$# or com rehend the ang o" utter sel"&a%asement with which I succum%ed %e"ore it- It was so terri%le that I seemed to hear her utter words# though I am sure she did not s ea$) and with some wild idea o" stemming the torrent o" her re roaches# I made an e""ort at e4 lanation# and im etuousl! cried1 'It was not "or m! own good# Agatha# not "or sel" altogether# I did this. I too loved !ou# madl!# des airingl!# and# good %rother as I seemed# I was 3ealous o" 8ames and ho ed to ta$e his lace in !our regard i" I could show a greater ros erit! and get "or !ou those things his limited ros ects denied him. You en3o! mone!# %eaut!# ease) I could see that %! !our letters# and i" 8ames could not give them to !ou and I could&& Oh# do not loo$ at me li$e that( I see now that millions could not have %ought !ou.' '/es ica%le(' was all that came "rom her li s. At which I shuddered and gro ed a%out "or the handle o" the door. 6ut she would not let me go. *u%duing with an une4 ected grand sel"& restraint the emotions which had hitherto swelled too high in her %reast "or either s eech or action# she thrust out one arm to sta! me and said in short# commanding tones1 'How was this thing done- You sa! !ou too$ the mone!# !et it was 8ames who was sent to collect it&&or so m! "ather sa!s.' Here she tore her loo$s "rom me and cast one glance at her "ather. +hat she saw I cannot sa!# %ut her manner changed and hence"orth she glanced his wa! as much as mine and with nearl! as much emotion. 'I am waiting to hear what !ou have to sa!#' she e4claimed# la!ing her hand on the door over m! head so as to leave me no o ortunit! "or esca e. I %owed and attem ted an e4 lanation. 'Agatha#' said I# 'the commission was given to 8ames and he rode to *utherlandtown to er"orm it. 6ut it was on the da! when he was accustomed to write to !ou# and he was not eas! in his mind# "or he "eared he would miss sending !ou his usual letter. +hen# there"ore# he came to the hotel and saw me in 5hilemon,s room&&I was o"ten there in those da!s# o"ten without 5hilemon,s $nowing it&&he saw# or thought he did# a wa! out o" his di""iculties. Entering where I was# he e4 lained to me his errand# and we %eing then&&though never# alas( since&&one in ever!thing %ut the secret ho es he en3o!ed# he as$ed me i" I would go in his stead to .r. Orr,s room# resent m! credentials# and o%tain the mone! while he wrote the letter with which his mind was "ull. Though m! 3ealous! was aroused and I hated the letter he was a%out to write# I did not see how I could re"use him) so a"ter receiving such credentials as he himsel" carried# and getting "ull instructions how to roceed#

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I le"t him writing at 5hilemon,s ta%le and hastened down the hall to the door he had ointed out. I" 5rovidence had %een on the side o" guilt# the circumstances could not have %een more "avoura%le "or the dece tion I a"terwards la!ed. No one was in the hall# no one was with .r. Orr to note that it was I instead o" 8ames who e4ecuted .r. 2ilchrist,s commission. 6ut I was thin$ing o" no dece tion then. I roceeded 0uite innocentl! on m! errand# and when the "ee%le voice o" the invalid %ade me enter# I e4 erienced nothing %ut a "eeling o" com assion "or a man d!ing in this desolate wa!# alone. O" course .r. Orr was sur rised to see a stranger# %ut a"ter reading .r. 2ilchrist,s letter which I handed him# he seemed 0uite satis"ied and himsel" drew out the wallet at the head o" his %ed and handed it over. ,You will "ind#, said he# ,a memorandum inside o" the "ull amount# JKKBM.LK. I should li$e to have returned .r. 2ilchrist the "ull ten thousand which I owe him# %ut this is all I ossess# %arring a hundred dollars which I have $e t "or m! "inal e4 enses., ,.r. 2ilchrist will %e satis"ied#, I assured him. ,*hall I ma$e !ou out a recei t-, He shoo$ his head with a sad smile. ,I shall %e dead in twent!&"our hours. +hat good will a recei t do me-, 6ut it seemed un%usinessli$e not to give it# so I went over to the ta%le# where I saw a en and a er# and recognising the necessit! o" counting the mone! %e"ore writing a recei t# I ran m! e!e over the %ills# which were large# and "ound the wallet contained 3ust the amount he had named. Then I glanced at the memorandum. It had evidentl! %een made out %! him at some revious time# "or the %od! o" the writing was in "irm characters and the in$ %lue# while the "igures were "aintl! inscri%ed in mudd! %lac$. The K es eciall! was little more than a straight line# and as I loo$ed at it the devil that is in ever! man,s nature whis ered at "irst carelessl!# then with dee er and dee er insistence1 ,How eas! it would %e to change that K to a I( Onl! a little mar$ at the to and the least additional stro$e at the %ottom and these "igures would stand "or "ive thousand less. It might %e a tem tation to some men., It resentl! %ecame a tem tation to me) "or# glancing "urtivel! u # I discovered that .r. Orr had "allen either into a slee or into a condition o" insensi%ilit! which made him o%livious to m! movements. Five thousand dollars( 3ust the sum o" the ten "ive&hundred&dollar %ills that made the %ul$ o" the amount I had counted. In this village and at m! age this sum would raise me at once to com arative inde endence. The tem tation was too strong "or resistance. I succum%ed to it# and sei7ing the en %e"ore me# I made the "atal mar$s. +hen I went %ac$ to 8ames the wallet was in m! hand# and the ten "ive& hundred&dollar %ills in m! %reast oc$et.' Agatha had %egun to shudder. *he shoo$ so she rattled the door against which I leaned. 'And when !ou "ound that 5rovidence was not so much u on !our side as !ou thought# when !ou saw that the "raud was $nown and that !our %rother was sus ected o" it&&' '/on,t(' I leaded# 'don,t ma$e me recall that hour('

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6ut she was ine4ora%le. 'Recall that and ever! hour#' she commanded. 'Tell me wh! he sacri"iced himsel"# wh! he sacri"iced me# to a cur&&' *he "eared her own tongue# she "eared her own anger# and sto ed. '* ea$#' she whis ered# and it was the most ghastl! whis er that ever le"t mortal li s. I was %ut a "oot "rom her and she held me as %! a strong enchantment. I could not hel o%e!ing her. 'To ma$e it all clear#' I ursued# 'I must go %ac$ to the time I re3oined 8ames in 5hilemon,s room. He had "inished his letter when I entered and was standing with it# sealed# in his hand. I ma! have cast it a disdain"ul glance. I ma! have shown that I was no longer the same man I had %een when I le"t him a hal"&hour %e"ore# "or he loo$ed curiousl! at me "or a moment revious to sa!ing1 ',Is that the wallet !ou have there- +as .r. Orr conscious# and did he give it to !ou himsel"-, ,.r. Orr was conscious#, I returned#&&and I didn,t li$e the sound o" m! own voice# care"ul as I was to s ea$ naturall!#&&, %ut he "ainted 3ust %e"ore I came out# and I thin$ !ou had %etter as$ the cler$ as !ou go down to send someone u to him., '8ames was weighing the oc$et&%oo$ in his hand. ,How much do !ou thin$ there is in here- The de%t was ten thousand., I had turned carelessl! awa! and was loo$ing out o" the window. ,The memorandum inside gives the "igures as two thousand#, I declared. ,He a ologises "or not sending the "ull amount. He hasn,t it., Again I "elt 8ames loo$ing at me. +h!- Could he see that guilt! wad o" %ills l!ing on m! %reast,How came !ou to read the memorandum-, he as$ed. ,.r. Orr wished me to. I loo$ed at it to lease him., This was a lie&&the "irst I had ever uttered. 8ames,s e!es had not moved. ,8ohn#, said he# ,this little %it o" %usiness seems to have distur%ed !ou. I ought to have attended to it m!sel". I am 0uite sure I ought to have attended to it m!sel"., ,The man is d!ing#, I muttered. ,You esca ed a sad sight. 6e satis"ied that !ou have got the mone!. *hall I ost that letter "or !ou-, He ut it 3ealousl! in his oc$et# and again I saw him loo$ at me# %ut he said nothing more e4ce t that he re eated that same hrase# ,I ought to have attended to it m!sel". Agatha might %etter have waited., Then he went out) %ut I remained till 5hilemon came home. .! %rother and m!sel" were no longer com anions) a crime divided us#&&a crime he could not sus ect# !et which made itsel" "elt in %oth our hearts and re ared him "or the revelation made to him %! .r. 2ilchrist some wee$s a"ter. That night he came to *utherlandtown# where I was# and entered m! %edroom&&not in the "raternal wa! o" the old da!s# %ut as an elder enters the resence o" a !ounger. ,8ohn#, he said# without an! ream%le or re aration# ,where are the "ive thousand dollars !ou $e t %ac$ "rom .r. 2ilchrist- The memorandum said seven and !ou delivered to me onl! two., There are death& $nells sounded in ever! li"e) those words sounded mine# or would have i" he had not immediatel! added1 ,There( I $new !ou had

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no stamina. I have ta$en !our crime on m!sel"# who am reall! to %lame "or it# since I delegated m! dut! to another# and !ou will onl! have to %ear the disgrace o" having 8ames <a%el "or a %rother. In e4change# give me the mone!) it shall %e returned to& morrow. You cannot have dis osed o" it alread!. A"ter which# !ou# or rather I# will %e in the e!es o" the world onl! a thie" in intent# not in "act., Had he onl! sto ed there(&& %ut he went on1 ,Agatha is lost to me# 8ohn. In return# %e to me the %rother I alwa!s thought !ou u to the unha ! da! the sin o" Achan came %etween us., 'YO> were lost to him( It was all I heard. YO> were lost to him( Then# i" I ac$nowledged the crime I should not onl! ta$e u m! own %urden o" disgrace# %ut see him restored to his rights over the onl! woman I had ever loved. The sacri"ice was great and m! virtue was not e0ual to it. I gave him %ac$ the mone!# %ut I did not o""er to assume the res onsi%ilit! o" m! own crime.' 'And since-' In what a hard tone she s o$e( 'I have had to see 5hilemon graduall! assume the rights 8ames once en3o!ed.' '8ohn#' she as$ed#&&she was under violent sel"&restraint#&&'wh! do !ou come now-' I cast m! e!es at 5hilemon. He was standing# as %e"ore# with his e!es turned awa!. There was discouragement in his attitude# mingled with a certain grand atience. *eeing that he was %etter a%le to %ear her loss than either !ou or m!sel"# I said to her ver! low# 'I thought !ou ought to $now the truth %e"ore !ou gave !our "inal word. I am late# %ut I would have %een TOO LATE a wee$ "rom now.' Her hand "ell "rom the door# %ut her e!es remained "i4ed on m! "ace. Never have I sustained such a loo$) never will I encounter such another. 'It is too late NO+#' she murmured. 'The clerg!man has 3ust gone who united me to 5hilemon.' The ne4t minute her %ac$ was towards me) she had "aced her "ather and her new& made hus%and. 'Father# !ou $new this thing(' 9een# shar # incisive# the words rang out. 'I saw it in !our "ace when he %egan to s ea$.' .r. 2ilchrist droo ed slightl!) lie was a ver! sic$ man and the scene had %een a tr!ing one.

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'I" I did#' was his low res onse# 'it was %ut latel!. You were engaged then to 5hilemon. +h! %rea$ u this second match-' *he e!ed him as i" she "ound it di""icult to credit her ears. *uch indi""erence to the claims o" innocence was incredi%le to her. I saw her grand ro"ile 0uiver# then the slow e%%ing "rom her chee$ o" ever! dro o" %lood indignation had summoned there. 'And !ou# 5hilemon-' she suggested# with a somewhat so"tened as ect. 'You committed this wrong ignorantl!. Never having heard o" this crime# !ou could not $now on what "alse grounds I had %een se arated "rom 8ames.' I had started to esca e# %ut sto ed 3ust %e!ond the threshold o" the door as she uttered these words. 5hilemon was not as ignorant as she su osed. This was evident "rom his attitude and e4 ression. 'Agatha#' he %egan# %ut at this "irst word# and %e"ore he could clas the hands held hel lessl! out %e"ore her# she gave a great cr!# and staggering %ac$# e!ed %oth her "ather and himsel" in a "ren7! o" indignation that was all the more uncontrolla%le "rom the su erhuman e""ort which she had hitherto made to su ress it. 'You too(' she shrie$ed. 'You too( and I have 3ust sworn to love# honour# and o%e! !ou( Love YO>( Honour YO>( the unconsciona%le wretch who&&' 6ut here .r. 2ilchrist rose. +ea$# tottering# 0uivering with something more than anger# he a roached his daughter and laid his "inger on her li s. '6e 0uiet(' he said. '5hilemon is not to %lame. A month ago he came to me and ra!ed that as a relie" to his mind I would tell him wh! !ou had se arated !oursel" "rom 8ames. He had alwa!s thought the match# had "allen through on account o" some "oolish 0uarrel or incom ati%ilit!# %ut latel! he had "eared there was something more than he sus ected in this %rea$# something that he should $now. *o I told him wh! !ou had dismissed 8ames) and whether he $new 8ames %etter than we did# or whether he had seen something in his long ac0uaintance with these %rothers which in"luenced his 3udgment# he said at once1 ,This cannot %e true o" 8ames. It is not in his nature to de"raud an! man) %ut 8ohn&&I might %elieve it o" 8ohn. Isn,t there some com lication here-, I had never thought o" 8ohn# and did not see how 8ohn could %e mi4ed u with an a""air I had su osed to %e a secret %etween 8ames and m!sel"# %ut when we came to locate the da!# 5hilemon remem%ered that on returning to his room that night# he had "ound 8ohn awaiting him. As his room was not "ive doors "rom that occu ied %! .r. Orr# he was convinced that there was more to this matter than I had sus ected. 6ut when he laid the matter %e"ore 8ames# he did not den! that 8ohn was guilt!# %ut was erem tor! in wishing !ou not to %e told %e"ore !our marriage. He $new that !ou were engaged to a

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good man# a man that !our "ather a roved# a man that could and would ma$e !ou ha !. He did not want to %e the means o" a second %rea$# and %esides# and this# I thin$# was at the %ottom o" the stand he too$# "or 8ames <a%el was alwa!s the roudest man I ever $new#&&he never could %ear# he said# to give to one li$e Agatha a name which he $new and she $new was not entirel! "ree "rom re roach. It would stand in the wa! o" his ha iness and ultimatel! o" hers) his %rother,s dishonour was his. *o while he still loved !ou# his onl! ra!er was that a"ter !ou were sa"el! married and 5hilemon was sure o" !our a""ection# he should tell !ou that the man !ou once regarded so "avoura%l! was not unworth! o" that regard. To o%e! him# 5hilemon has $e t silent# while I&& Agatha# what are !ou doing- Are !ou mad# m! child-' *he loo$ed so "or the moment. Tearing o"" the ring which she had worn %ut an hour# she "lung it on the "loor. Then she threw her arms high u over her head and %urst out in an aw"ul voice1 'Curses on the "ather# curses on the hus%and# who have com%ined to ma$e me rue the da! I was %orn( The "ather I cannot disown# %ut the hus%and&&' 'Hush(' It was .r. 2ilchrist who dared her "ur!. 5hilemon said nothing. 'Hush( he ma! %e the "ather o" !our children. /on,t curse&&' 6ut she onl! towered the higher and her %eaut!# "rom %eing sim l! ma3estic# %ecame a alling. 'Children(' she cried. 'I" ever I %ear children to this man# ma! the %light o" Heaven stri$e them as it has struc$ me this da!. .a! the! die as m! ho es have died# or# i" the! live# ma! the! %ruise his heart as mine is %ruised# and curse their "ather as&&' Here I "led the house. I was sha$ing as i" this aw"ul denunciation had "allen on m! own head. 6ut %e"ore the door closed %ehind me# a di""erent cr! called me %ac$. .r. 2ilchrist was l!ing li"eless on the "loor# and 5hilemon# the atient# tender 5hilemon# had ta$en Agatha to his %reast and was soothing her there as i" the words she had showered u on him had %een %lessings instead o" the most "ear"ul curses which had ever le"t the li s o" mortal woman. The ne4t letter was in Agatha,s handwriting. It was dated some months later and was stained and crum led more than an! other in the whole ac$et. Could 5hilemon once have told wh!- +ere these %lotted lines the result o" his tears "alling "ast u on them# tears o" "ort! !ears ago# when he and she were !oung and love had %een# dou%t"ul- +as the sheet so !ellowed and so seamed %ecause it had %een worn on his %reast and "olded and un"olded so

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o"ten- 5hilemon# thou art in th! grave# slee ing sweetl! at last %! th! dee l! idolised one# %ut these mar$s o" "eeling still remain indissolu%l! connected with the words that gave them %irth. /EAR 5HILE.ON1 You are gone "or a da! and a night onl!# %ut it seems a lengthened a%sence to me# meriting a little letter. You have %een so good to me# 5hilemon# ever since that dread"ul hour "ollowing our marriage# that sometimes&&I hardl! dare !et to sa! alwa!s&&I "eel that I am %eginning to love !ou and that 2od did not deal with me so harshl! when He cast me into !our arms. Yesterda! I tried to tell !ou this when !ou almost $issed me at arting. 6ut I was a"raid it was a momentar! sentimentalit! and so $e t still. 6ut to&da! such a warm well&s ring o" 3o! rises in m! heart when I thin$ that to&morrow the house will %e %right again# and that in lace o" the em t! wall o osite me at ta%le I shall see !our $indl! and "or%earing "ace# I $now that the heart I had thought im regna%le has %egun to !ield# and that dail! gentleness# and a %oundless consideration "rom one who had e4cuse "or %itter thoughts and recrimination# are doing what all o" us thought im ossi%le a "ew short months ago. Oh# I am so ha !# 5hilemon# so ha ! to love where it is now m! dut! to love) and i" it were not "or that dread"ul memor! o" a "ather d!ing with harsh words in his ears# and the $nowledge that !ou# m! hus%and# !et not m! hus%and# are %earing ever a%out with !ou echoes o" words that in another nature would have turned tenderness into gall# I could %e merr! also and sing as I go a%out the house ma$ing it leasant and com"orta%le against !our s eed! return. As it is I can %ut la! m! hand so"tl! on m! heart as its %eatings grow too im etuous and sa!# '2od %less m! a%sent 5hilemon and hel him to "orgive me( I "orgive him and love him as I never thought I could.' That !ou ma! see that these are not the wea$ out ourings o" a lonel! woman# I will here write that I heard to&da! that 8ohn and 8ames <a%el have gone into artnershi in the shi &%uilding %usiness# 8ohn,s uncle having le"t him a legac! o" several thousand dollars. I ho e the! will do well. 8ames# the! sa!# is "ull o" %usiness and is# to all a earance# er"ectl! cheer"ul. This relieves me "rom too much worr! in his regard. 2od certainl! $new what $ind o" a hus%and I needed. .a! !ou "ind !oursel" e0uall! %lessed in !our wi"e. Another letter to 5hilemon# a !ear later1 /EAR 5HILE.ON1 Hasten home# 5hilemon) I do not li$e these a%sences. I am 3ust now too wea$ and "ear"ul. *ince we $new the great ho e %e"ore us# I have loo$ed o"ten in !our "ace "or a sign that !ou remem%ered what this ho e cannot %ut recall to m! shuddering memor!. 5hilemon# 5hilemon# was I mad- +hen I thin$ what I

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said in m! rage# and then "eel the little li"e stirring a%out m! heart# I wonder that 2od did not stri$e me dead rather than %estow u on me the greatest %lessing that can come to woman. 5hilemon# 5hilemon# i" an!thing should ha en to the child( I thin$ o" it %! da!# I thin$ o" it %! night. I $now !ou thin$ o" it too# though !ou show me such a cheer"ul countenance and ma$e such great lans "or the "uture. '+ill 2od remem%er m! words# or will He "orget- It seems as i" m! reason hung u on this 0uestion.' A note this time in answer to one "rom 8ohn <a%el1 /EAR 8OHN1 Than$ !ou "or words which could have come "rom no%od! else. .! child is dead. Could I e4 ect an!thing di""erent- I" I did# 2od has re%u$ed me. 5hilemon thin$s onl! o" me. +e understand each other so er"ectl! now that our greatest su""ering comes in seeing each other,s ain. .! load I can %ear# %ut HI*&& Come and see me# 8ohn) and tell 8ames our house is o en to him. +e have all done wrong# and are caught in one net o" mis"ortune. Let it ma$e us "riends again. 6elow this in 5hilemon,s hand1 .! wi"e is su erstitious. *trong and ca a%le as she is# she has regarded this sudden ta$ing o"" o" our "irst&%orn as a sign that certain words uttered %! her on her marriage da!# unha il! $nown to !ou and# as I ta$e it# to 8ames also# have %een remem%ered %! the righteous 2od a%ove us. This is a wea$ness which I cannot com%at. Can !ou# who alone o" all the world %eside $now %oth it and its cause# hel me %! a renewed "riendshi # whose cheer"ul and natural character ma! graduall! ma$e her "orget- I" so# come li$e old neigh%ours# and dine with us on our wedding da!. I" 2od sees that we have %uried the ast and are read! to "orgive each other the "aults o" our !outh# erha s He will "urther s are this good woman. I thin$ she will %e a%le to %ear it. *he has great strength e4ce t where a little child is concerned. That alone can hence"orth stir the dee est recesses o" her heart. A"ter this# a ga o" !ears. One# two# three# "our# "ive children were laid awa! to rest in 5ortchester church!ard# then 5hilemon and she came to *utherlandtown) %ut not till a"ter a certain event had occurred# %est made $nown %! this last letter to 5hilemon1 /EARE*T H>*6AN/1 Our %a%e is %orn# our si4th and our dearest# and the re roach o" its "irst loo$ had to %e met %! me alone. Oh# wh! did I leave !ou and come to this great 6oston where I have no "riend %ut .rs. *utherland- /id I thin$ I could %rea$

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the s ell o" "ate or rovidence %! giving %irth to m! last darling among strangers- I shall have to do something more than that i" I would save this child to our old age. It is %orne in u on me li$e "ate that never will a child ros er at m! %reast or survive the clas o" m! arms. I" it is to live it must %e reared %! others. *ome woman who has not %rought down the curse o" Heaven u on her %! her own %las hemies must nourish the tender "rame and receive the %lessing o" its growing love. Neither I nor !ou can ho e to see recognition in our %a%e,s e!e. 6e"ore it can turn u on us with love# it will close in its last slee and we will %e le"t desolate. +hat shall we do# then# with this little son- To whose guardianshi can we entrust it- /o !ou $now a man good enough or a woman su""icientl! tender- I do not# %ut i" 2od wills that our little Frederic$ should live# He will raise u someone. 6! the ang o" ossi%le se aration alread! tearing m! heart# I %elieve that He +ILL raise u someone. .eanwhile I do not dare to $iss the child# lest I should %light it. He is so sturd!# 5hilemon# so di""erent "rom all the other "ive. I o en this to add that .rs. *utherland has 3ust %een in&&with her "ive&wee$s&old in"ant. His "ather is awa!# too# and has not !et seen his %o!) and this is their "irst a"ter ten !ears o" marriage. Oh# that m! "uture o ened %e"ore me as %rightl! as hers( The ne4t letter o ens with a cr!1 5hilemon( Come to me# 5hilemon( I have done what I threatened. I have made the sacri"ice. Our child is no longer ours# and now# erha s# he ma! live. 6ut oh# m! %rea$ing heart( m! em t! arms( Hel me to %ear m! desolation# "or it is "or li"e. +e will never have another child. And where is it- Ah# that is the wonder o" it. Near !ou# 5hilemon# !et not too near. .rs. *utherland has it# and !ou ma! have seen its little "ace through the car window i" !ou were in the station last night when the e4 ress assed through to *utherlandtown. Ah( %ut she has her %urden to %ear too. An aw"ul# secret %urden li$e m! own# onl! she will have the child&&"or# 5hilemon# she has ta$en it in lieu o" her own# which died last night in m! sight) and .r. *utherland does not $now what she has done# and never will# i" !ou $ee the secret as I shall# "or the sa$e o" the li"e our little innocent has thus won. +hat do I mean and how was it all- 5hilemon# it was 2od,s wor$# all %ut the dece tion# and that is "or the good o" all# and to save "our %ro$en hearts. Listen. Yesterda!# onl! !esterda!#&&it seems a month ago#&&.rs. *utherland came again to see me with her %a%! in her arms. .r. *utherland is e4 ected home# as !ou $now# this wee$# and she was a%out to start out "or *utherlandtown so as to %e in her own house when he came. The %a%! was loo$ing well and she was the ha iest o" women) "or the one wish o" his heart and hers had %een "ul"illed and she was soon going to have the %liss o" showing the child to his "ather. .! own %a%e was on the %ed aslee # and I#

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who am "eeling wonder"ull! strong# was sitting u in a little chair as "ar awa! "rom him as ossi%le# not out o" hatred or indi""erence&&oh# no(&&%ut %ecause he seemed to rest %etter when le"t entirel! %! himsel" and not under the hungr! loo$ o" m! e!e. .rs. *utherland went over to loo$ at it. 'Oh# he is "air li$e m! %a%!#' she said# 'and almost as sturd!# though mine is a month older.' And she stoo ed down and $issed him. 5hilemon# he smiled "or her# though he never had "or me. I saw it with a greed! longing that almost made me cr! out. Then I turned to her and we tal$ed. O" what- I cannot remem%er now. At home we had never %een intimate "riends. *he is "rom *utherlandtown and I am "rom 5ortchester# and the distance o" nine miles is enough to estrange eo le. 6ut here# each with a hus%and a%sent and a darling in"ant l!ing aslee under our e!es# interests we have never thought identical drew us to one another and we chatted with ever&increasing leasure&&when suddenl! .rs. *utherland 3um ed u in a terri%le "right. The in"ant she had %een roc$ing on her %reast was %lue) the ne4t minute it shuddered) the ne4t&&it la! in her arms /EA/( I hear the shrie$ !et with which she "ell with it still in her arms to the "loor. Fortunatel! no other ears were o en to her cr!. I alone saw her miser!. I alone heard her tale. The child had %een oisoned# 5hilemon# oisoned %! her. *he had mista$en a cu o" medicine "or a cu o" water and had given the child a "ew dro s in a s oon 3ust %e"ore setting out "rom her hotel. *he had not $nown at the time what she had done# %ut now she remem%ered that the "atal cu was 3ust li$e the other and that the two stood ver! near together. Oh# her innocent child# and oh# her hus%and( It seemed as i" the latter thought would drive her wild. 'He has so wished "or a child#' she moaned. '+e have %een married ten !ears and this %a%! seemed to have %een sent "rom heaven. He will curse me# he will hate me# he will never %e a%le a"ter this to %ear me in his sight.' This was not true o" .r. *utherland# %ut it was useless to argue with her. Instead o" attem ting it# I too$ another wa! to sto her ravings. Li"ting the child out o" her hands# I "irst listened at its heart# and then# "inding it was reall! dead#&&5hilemon# I have seen too man! li"eless children not to $now#&&I %egan slowl! to undress it. '+hat are !ou doing-' she cried. '.rs. +e%%# .rs. +e%%# what are !ou doing-' For re l! I ointed to the %ed# where two little arms could %e seen "ee%l! "luttering. 'You shall have m! child#' I whis ered. 'I have carried too man! %a%ies to the tom% to dare ris$ %ringing u another.' And catching her oor wandering s irit with m! e!e# I held her while I told her m! stor!. 5hilemon# I saved that woman. 6e"ore I had "inished s ea$ing I saw the reason return to her e!e and the dawning o" a iti"ul ho e in her assion&drawn "ace. *he loo$ed at the child in m! arms and then she loo$ed at the one in the %ed# and the long&drawn sigh with which she "inall! %ent down and we t over our darling told me that m! cause was won. The rest was eas!.

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+hen the clothes o" the two children had %een e4changed# she too$ our %a%! in her arms and re ared to leave. Then I sto ed her. '*wear#' I cried# holding her %! the arm and li"ting m! other hand to heaven# 'swear !ou will %e a mother to this child( *wear !ou will love it as !our own and rear it in the aths o" truth and righteousness(' The convulsive clas with which she drew the %a%! to her %reast assured me more than her shuddering 'I swear(' that her heart had alread! o ened to it. I dro ed her arm and covered m! "ace with m! hands. I could not see m! darling go) it was worse than death "or the moment it was worse than death. 'O 2od# save him(' I groaned. '2od# ma$e him an honour&&' 6ut here she caught me %! the arm. Her clutch was "ren7ied# her teeth were chattering. '*wear in !our turn(' she gas ed. '*wear that i" I do a mother,s dut! %! this %o!# !ou will $ee m! secret and never# never reveal to m! hus%and# to the %o!# or to the world that !ou have an! claims u on him(' It was li$e tearing the heart "rom m! %reast with m! own hand# %ut I swore# 5hilemon# and she in her turn drew %ac$. 6ut suddenl! she "aced me again# terror and dou%t in all her loo$s. 'Your hus%and(' she whis ered. 'Can !ou $ee such a secret "rom him- You will %reathe it in !our dreams.' 'I shall tell him#' I answered. 'Tell him(' The hair seemed to rise on her "orehead and she shoo$ so that I "eared she would dro the %a%e. '6e care"ul(' I cried. '*ee( !ou "righten the %a%e. .! hus%and has %ut one heart with me. +hat I do he will su%scri%e to. /o not "ear 5hilemon.' *o I romised in !our name. 2raduall! she grew calmer. +hen I saw she was stead! again# I motioned her to go. Even m! more than mortal strength was "ailing# and the %a%!&&5hilemon# I had never $issed it and I did not $iss it then. I heard her "eet draw slowl! towards the door# I heard her hand "all on the $no%# heard it turn# uttered one cr!# and then&&& The! "ound me an hour a"ter# l!ing along the "loor# clas ing the dead in"ant in m! arms. I was in a swoon# and the! all thin$ I "ell with the child# as erha s I did# and that its little li"e went out during m! insensi%ilit!. O" its "eatures# li$e and !et unli$e our %o!,s# no one seems to ta$e heed. The nurse who cared "or it is gone# and who else would $now that little "ace %ut me- The! are ver! good to me# and are "ull o" sel"&re roaches "or leaving me so long in m! art o" the %uilding alone. 6ut though the! watch me now# I have contrived to write this letter# which !ou will get with the one telling o" the %a%!,s death and m! own dangerous condition. /estro! it# 5hilemon# and then CO.E. Nothing in all the world will give me com"ort %ut !our hand laid under m! head and !our true e!es loo$ing into mine. Ah# we must love each other now# and live hum%l!( All our woe has come "rom m! earl! girlish delight in ga! and elegant things. From this da! on I eschew all vanities and "ind in !our a""ection alone the solace which Heaven will not den! to our %ewildered hearts. 5erha s in this wa! the %lessing that has %een denied us will %e visited on our child# who will live. I am now sure# to %e the delight o" our hearts and the ride o" our e!es# even though we are denied the %liss o" his resence and a""ection.

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.rs. *utherland was not seen to enter or go out o" m! rooms. 6eing on her wa! to the de ot# she $e t on her wa!# and must %e now in her own home. Her secret is sa"e# %ut ours&&oh# !ou will hel me to reserve it( Hel me not to %etra!&&tell them I have lost "ive %a%ies %e"ore this one&&delirious&&there ma! %e an in0uest&&she must not %e mentioned&&let all the %lame "all on me i" there is %lame&&I "ell&&there is a %ruise on the %a%!,s "orehead&&and&&and& &I am growing incoherent&&I will tr! and direct this and then love&&love&&O 2od( GA scrawl "or the name.H >nder it these words1 Though %idden to destro! this# I have never dared to do so. *ome da! it ma! %e o" inestima%le value to us or our %o!. 5HILE.ON +E66. This was the last letter "ound in the "irst ac$et. As it was laid down# so%s were heard all over the room# and Frederic$# who "or some time now had %een sitting with his head in his hands# ventured to loo$ u and sa!1 '/o !ou wonder that I endeavoured to $ee this secret# %ought at such a rice and sealed %! the death o" her I thought m! mother and o" her who reall! was- 2entlemen# .r. *utherland loved his wi"e and honoured her memor!. To tell him# as I shall have to within the hour# that the child she laced in his arms twent!&"ive !ears ago was an alien# and that all his love# his care# his disa ointment# and his su""erings had %een lavished on the son o" a neigh%our# re0uired greater courage than to "ace dou%t on the "aces o" m! "ellow& townsmen# or an!thing# in short# %ut a%solute arraignment on the charge o" murder. Hence m! silence# hence m! indecision# till this woman'&&here he ointed a scorn"ul "inger at Ama%el# now shrin$ing in her chair&&'drove me to it %! secretl! threatening me with a testimon! which would have made me the murderer o" m! mother and the lasting disgrace o" a good man who alone has %een without %lame "rom the %eginning to the end o" this des erate a""air. *he was a%out to s ea$ when I "orestalled her. .! unishment# i" I deserve such# will %e to sit and hear in !our resence the reading o" the letters still remaining in the coroner,s hands.' These letters were certain ones written %! Agatha to her unac$nowledged son. The! had never %een sent. The "irst one dated "rom his earliest in"anc!# and its sim le and touching ho e"ulness sent a thrill through ever! heart. It read as "ollows1 Three !ears old# m! darling( and the health "lush has not "aded "rom !our chee$ nor the %right gold "rom !our hair. Oh# how I %less .rs. *utherland that she did not re%u$e me when !our "ather and I came to *utherlandtown and set u our home where I could at least see !our merr! "orm toddling through the streets# holding on to the hand o" her

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who now claims !our love. .! darling# m! ride# m! angel# so near and !et so "ar removed# will !ou ever $now# even in the heaven to which we all loo$ "or 3o! a"ter our wear! ilgrimage is over# how o"ten in this trou%lous world# and in these da!s o" !our earl! in"anc!# I have cre t out o" m! warm %ed# dressed m!sel"# and# without a word to !our "ather# whose heart it would %rea$# gone out and clim%ed the stee hillside 3ust to loo$ at the window o" !our room to see i" it were light or dar$ and !ou awa$e or slee ing- To %reathe the scent o" the eglantine which clim%s u to !our nurser! window# I have %raved the night&dam s and the watching e!es o" Heaven) %ut !ou have a child,s %liss"ul ignorance o" all this) !ou onl! grow and grow and live# m! darling# LI=E(&&which is the onl! %oon I crave# the onl! recom ense I as$. Have I %ut added another sin to m! account and %rought a worse vengeance on m!sel" than that o" seeing !ou die in !our earl! in"anc!- Frederic$# m! son# m! son# I heard !ou swear to&da!( Not lightl!# thoughtlessl!# as %o!s sometimes will in imitation o" their elders# %ut %itterl!# revenge"ull!# as i" the seeds o" evil assions were alread! ushing to li"e in the %o!ish %reast I thought so innocent. /id !ou wonder at the strange woman who sto ed !ou- /id !ou realise the aw"ul woe "rom which m! common lace words s rang- No# no# what grown mind could ta$e that in# least o" all a child,s- To have "orsworn the %liss o" motherhood and entered u on a li"e o" dece tion "or THI*( Trul! Heaven is im laca%le and m! last sin is to %e unished more ine4ora%l! than m! "irst. There are worse evils than death. This I have alwa!s heard# %ut now I $now it. 2od was merci"ul when He slew m! %a%es# and I# resum tous in m! re%ellion# and the e""orts with which I tried to revent His wor$. Frederic$# !ou are wea$# dissi ated# and without conscience. The darling %a%e# the %eauti"ul child# has grown into a rec$less !outh whose im ulses .r. *utherland will "ind it hard to restrain# and over whom his mother&&do I call her !our mother-&&has little in"luence# though she tries hard to do a mother,s art and save hersel" and m!sel" "rom %oundless regret. .! %o!# m! %o!# do !ou "eel the lac$ o" !our own mother,s vigour- .ight !ou have lived under m! care and owned a %etter restraint and learned to wor$ and live a res ecta%le li"e in circumstances less rovocative o" sel"&indulgence- *uch 0uestions# when the! rise# are maddening. +hen I see them "orm themselves in 5hilemon,s e!es I drive them out with all the "orce o" m! in"luence# which is still strong over him. 6ut when the! ma$e wa! in m! own %reast# I can "ind no relie"# not even in ra!er. Frederic$# were I to tell !ou the truth a%out !our arentage# would the shoc$ o" such an une4 ected revelation ma$e a man o" !ou- I have %een tem ted to ma$e the trial# at times. /ee down in m! heart I have thought that erha s I should %est serve the good man who is growing gre! under !our wa!wardness# %! o ening u %e"ore !ou the ast and resent agonies o" which !ou are the unconscious centre. 6ut I cannot do this while *HE lives. The loo$ she gave me one da! when I a roached !ou a ste too near at the church door# roves that it would %e the $illing o" her to reveal her

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long& reserved secret now. I must wait her death# which seems near# and then&& No# I cannot do it. .r. *utherland has %ut one sta"" to lean on# and that is !ou. It ma! %e a oor one# a %rea$ing one# %ut it is still a sta"". I dare not ta$e it awa!&&I dare not. Ah# i" 5hilemon was the man he was once# he might counsel me# %ut he is onl! a child now) 3ust as i" 2od had heard m! cr! "or children and had given me&&HI.. .ore mone!# and still more mone!( and I hate it e4ce t "or what it will do "or the oor and inca a%le a%out me. How strange are the wa!s o" 5rovidence( To us who have no need o" aught %e!ond a com etence# mone! ours in almost against our will# while to those who long and la%our "or it# it comes not# or comes so slowl! the li"e wears out in the waiting and the wor$ing. The <a%els# now( Once well&to&do shi & %uilders# with a good %usiness and a home "ull o" curious wor$s o" art# the! now a ear to "ind it hard to o%tain even the necessities o" li"e. *uch are the "rea$s o" "ortune) or should I sa!# the dealings o" an inscruta%le 5rovidence- Once I tried to give something out o" m! a%undance to these old "riends# %ut their ride stood in the wa! and the attem t "ailed. +orse than that. As i" to show that %ene"its should roceed "rom them to me rather than "rom me to them# 8ames %estowed on me a gi"t. It is a strange one#&&nothing more nor less than a 0uaint Florentine dagger which I had o"ten admired "or its e40uisite wor$manshi . +as it the last treasure he ossessed- I am almost a"raid so. At all events it shall lie here in m! ta%le& drawer where I alone can see it. *uch sights are not good "or 5hilemon. He must have cheer"ul o%3ects %e"ore him# ha ! "aces such as mine tries to %e. 6ut ah( I would gladl! give m! li"e i" I could once hold !ou in m! arms# m! erring %ut %eloved son. +ill the da! ever come when I can- +ill !ou have strength enough to hear m! stor! and reserve !our eace and let me go down to the grave with the memor! o" one loo$# one smile# that is "or me alone- *ometimes I "oresee this hour and am ha ! "or a "ew short minutes) and then some "resh stor! o" !our rec$lessness is wa"ted through the town and&& +hat sto ed her at this oint we shall never $now. *ome want o" 5hilemon,s# erha s. At all events she le"t o"" here and the letter was never resumed. It was the last secret out ouring o" her heart. +ith this %ro$en sentence Agatha,s letters terminated. . ...... That a"ternoon# %e"ore the in0uir! %ro$e u # the 3ur! %rought in their verdict. It was1

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'/eath %! means o" a wound in"licted u on hersel" in a moment o" terror and misa rehension.' It was all his "ellow&townsmen could do "or Frederic$. CCCIII. FATHER AN/ *ON 6ut Frederic$,s da! o" trial was not !et over. There was a closed door to o en and a "ather to see :as in his heart he still called .r. *utherland;. Then there were "riends to "ace# and "oes# under conditions he %etter than an!one else# $new were in some regards made worse rather than %etter %! the admissions and revelations o" this event"ul da!&&Agnes# "or instance. How could he meet her ure ga7e- 6ut it was his "ather he must "irst con"ront# his "ather to whom he would have to re eat in rivate the tale which ro%%ed the %est o" men o" a ast# and too$ "rom him a son# almost a wi"e# without leaving him one memor! calculated to console him. Frederic$ was so a%sor%ed in this antici ation that he scarcel! noticed the two or three timid hands stretched out in encouragement toward him# and was moving slowl! toward the door %ehind which his "ather had disa eared so man! hours %e"ore# when he was recalled to the interests o" the moment %! a single word# uttered not ver! "ar "rom him. It was sim l!# '+ell-' 6ut it was uttered %! 9na and re eated %! .r. Courtne!. Frederic$ shuddered# and was hurr!ing on when he "ound himsel" sto ed %! a iteous "igure that# with a ealing e!es and timid gestures# ste ed u %e"ore him. It was Ama%el. 'Forgive(' she murmured# loo$ing li$e a leading saint. 'I did not $now&&I never dreamed&&!ou were so much o" a man# Frederic$1 that !ou %ore such a heart# cherished such grie"s# were so worth! o" love and a woman,s admiration. I" I had&&' Her e4 ression was elo0uent# more elo0uent than he had ever seen it# "or it had real "eeling in it) %ut he ut her coldl! %!. '+hen m! "ather,s white hairs %ecome %lac$ again# and the stor! o" m! shame is "orgotten in this never&"orgetting world# then come %ac$ and I will "orgive !ou.' And he was assing on when another touch detained him. He turned# this time in some im atience# onl! to meet the "ran$ e!es o" *weetwater. As he $new ver! little o" this !oung man# save that he was the amateur detective who had %! some "oll! o" his own %een carried o"" on the Hes er# and who was ro%a%l! the onl! man saved "rom its wrec$# he was a%out to greet him with some common lace hrase o" congratulation# when *weetwater interru ted him with the "ollowing words1

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'I onl! wanted to sa! that it ma! %e easier "or !ou to a roach !our "ather with the revelations !ou are a%out to ma$e i" !ou $new that in his resent "rame o" mind he is much more li$el! to %e relieved %! such roo"s o" innocence as !ou can give him than overwhelmed %! such as show the lac$ o" $inshi %etween !ou. For two wee$s .r. *utherland has %een %ending under the %elie" o" !our ersonal criminalit! in this matter. This was his secret# which was shared %! me.' '6! !ou-' 'Yes# %! me( I am more closel! lin$ed to this a""air than !ou can readil! imagine. *ome da! I ma! %e a%le to e4 lain m!sel"# %ut not now. Onl! remem%er what I have said a%out !our "ather&& ardon me# I should erha s sa! .r. *utherland&&and act accordingl!. 5erha s it was to tell !ou this that I was "orced %ac$ here against m! will %! the strangest series o" events that ever ha ened to a man. 6ut#' he added# with a sidelong loo$ at the grou o" men still hovering a%out the coroner,s ta%le# 'I had rather thin$ it was "or some more im ortant o""ice still. 6ut this the "uture will show#&&the "uture which I seem to see lowering in the "aces over there.' And# waiting "or no re l!# he melted into the crowd. Frederic$ assed at once to his "ather. No one interru ted them during this solemn interview# %ut the large crowd that in the halls and on the ste s o" the %uilding awaited Frederic$,s rea earance showed that the u%lic interest was still warm in a matter a""ecting so dee l! the heart and interests o" their %est citi7en. +hen# there"ore# that long&closed door "inall! o ened and Frederic$ was seen escorting .r. *utherland on his arm# the tide o" "eeling which had not !et su%sided since Agatha,s letters were read vented itsel" in one great so% o" relie". For .r. *utherland,s "ace was calmer than when the! had last seen it# and his ste more assured# and he leaned# or made himsel" lean# on Frederic$,s arm# as i" to im ress u on all who saw them that the ties o" !ears cannot %e sha$en o"" so easil!# and that he still loo$ed u on Frederic$ as his son. 6ut he was not contented with this dum% show# elo0uent as it was. As the crowd arted and these two im osing "igures too$ their wa! down the ste s to the carriage which had %een sent "or them# .r. *utherland cast one dee and long glance a%out him on "aces he $new and on "aces he did not $now# on those who were near and those who were "ar# and raising his voice# which did not trem%le as much as might have %een e4 ected# said deli%eratel!1 '.! son accom anies me to his home. I" he should a"terwards %e wanted# he will %e "ound at his own "ireside. 2ood&da!# m! "riends. I than$ !ou "or the goodwill !ou have this da! shown us %oth.'

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Then he entered the carriage. The solemn wa! in which Frederic$ %ared his head in ac$nowledgment o" this u%lic recognition o" the hold he still retained on this one "aith"ul heart# struc$ awe into the hearts o" all who saw it. *o that the carriage rolled o"" in silence# closing one o" the most thrilling and im ressive scenes ever witnessed in that time& worn village. CCCI=. NOT +HEN THEY ARE YO>N2 2IRL* 6ut# alas( all tides have their e%% as well as "low# and %e"ore .r. *utherland and Frederic$ were well out o" the main street the latter %ecame aware that notwithstanding the res ect with which his e4 lanations had %een received %! the 3ur!# there were man! o" his "ellow&townsmen who were read! to show dissatis"action at his %eing allowed to return in "reedom to that home where he had still ever! ros ect o" %eing called the !oung master. /ou%t# that seed o" rami"!ing growth# had %een lanted in more than one %reast# and while it "ailed as !et to %rea$ out into an! o en mani"estation# there were evidences enough in the ver! restraint visi%le in such grou s o" eo le as the! assed that sus icion had not %een su ressed or his innocence esta%lished %! the over&"avoura%le verdict o" the coroner,s 3ur!. To .r. *utherland# su""ering now "rom the reaction "ollowing all great e""orts# much# i" not all# o" this 0uiet %ut signi"icant dis la! o" u%lic "eeling assed unnoticed. 6ut to Frederic$# alive to the least loo$# the least sign that his stor! had not %een acce ted un0uestioned# this assage through the town was the occasion o" the most oignant su""ering. For not onl! did these mar$s o" u%lic sus icion %es ea$ ossi%le arraignment in the "uture# %ut through them it %ecame evident that even i" he esca ed o en condemnation in the courts# he could never ho e "or com lete reinstatement %e"ore the world# nor# what was to him a still dee er source o" des air# antici ate a da! when Agnes,s love should ma$e amends to him "or the grie" and errors o" his more than wa!ward !outh. He could never marr! so ure a %eing while the shadow o" crime se arated him "rom the mass o" human %eings. Her %elie" in his innocence and the e4act truth o" his stor! :and he was con"ident she did %elieve him; could ma$e no di""erence in this conclusion. +hile he was regarded o enl! or in dar$ corners or %eside the hum%lest "ireside as a ossi%le criminal# neither .r. *utherland nor her "ather# nor his own heart even# would allow him to o""er her an!thing %ut a "riend,s gratitude# or win "rom her an!thing %ut a neigh%our,s s!m ath!) !et in %idding good& %!e to larger ho es and more im ortunate desires# he arted with the %etter art o" his heart and the onl! solace remaining in this world "or the %oundless grie"s and tragic e4 eriences o" his still !oung li"e. He had learned to love through su""ering# onl! to realise that the ver! nature o" his su""ering "or%ade him to indulge in love.

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And this seemed a "inal 3udgment# even in this hour o" u%lic 3usti"ication. He had told his stor! and %een "or the moment %elieved# %ut what was there in his li"e# what was there in the "acts as witnessed %! others# what was there in his mother,s letters and the revelation o" their secret relationshi # to corro%orate his assertions# or to rove that her hand and not his had held the wea on when the li"e&%lood gushed "rom her devoted %reast- Nothing# nothing) onl! his word to stand against all human ro%a%ilities and natural in"erence) onl! his word and the generous nature o" the great&hearted woman who had thus erished( Though a do7en o" his "ellow&citi7ens had %! their verdict ro"essed their %elie" in his word and given him the %ene"it o" a dou%t involving his li"e as well as his honour# he# as well as the!# $new that neither the olice nor the general u%lic were given to sentimentalit!# and that the 0uestion o" his guilt still la! o en and must remain so till his d!ing da!. For "rom the nature o" things no roo" o" the truth was ro%a%le. 6ats! %eing dead# onl! 2od and his own heart could $now that the "acts o" that aw"ul hal"&hour were as he had told them. Had 2od in His 3ustice removed in this stri$ing wa! his onl! witness# as a unishment "or his sins and his mad indulgence in acts so little short o" crime as to arta$e o" its guilt and merit its o%lo0u!He was as$ing himsel" this 0uestion as he %ent to "asten the gate. His "ather had assed in# the carriage had driven o""# and the road was almost solitar!&&%ut not 0uite. As he leaned his arm over the gate and turned to ta$e a "inal glance down the hillside# he saw# with what "eelings no one will ever $now# the light "igure o" Agnes advancing on the arm o" her "ather. He would have drawn %ac$# %ut a %etter im ulse intervened and he stood his ground. .r. Hallida!# who wal$ed ver! close to Agnes# cast her an admonitor! glance which Frederic$ was not slow in inter reting# then sto ed reluctantl!# erha s %ecause he saw her "alter# erha s %ecause he $new that an interview %etween these two was unavoida%le and had %est %e 0uic$l! over. Frederic$ "ound his voice "irst. 'Agnes#' said he# 'I am glad o" this o ortunit! "or e4 ressing m! gratitude. You have acted li$e a "riend and have earned m! eternal consideration# even i" we never s ea$ again.' There was a momentar! silence. Her head# which had droo ed under his greeting# rose again. Her e!es# humid with "eeling# sought his "ace. '+h! do !ou s ea$ li$e that-' said she. '+h! shouldn,t we meet- /oes not ever!one recognise !our innocence# and will not the whole world soon see# as I have# that !ou have le"t the old li"e %ehind and have onl! to %e !our new sel" to win ever!one,s regard-'

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'Agnes#' returned Frederic$# smiling sadl! as he o%served the sudden alarm visi%le in her "ather,s "ace at these enthusiastic words# '!ou $now me erha s %etter than others do and are re ared to %elieve m! words and m! more than unha ! stor!. 6ut there are "ew li$e !ou in the world. 5eo le in general will not ac0uit me# and i" there was onl! one erson who dou%ted '&&.r. Hallida! %egan to loo$ relieved&&'I would "ail to give an! romise o" the new li"e !ou ho e to see me lead# i" I allowed the shadow under which I undou%tedl! rest to "all in the remotest wa! across !ours. You and I have %een "riends and will continue such# %ut we will hold little intercourse in "uture# hard as I "ind it to sa! so. /oes not .r. Hallida! consider this right- As !our "ather he must.' Agnes,s e!es# leaving Frederic$,s "or a moment# sought her "ather,s. Alas( there was no mista$ing their language. *ighing dee l!# she again hung her head. 'Too much care "or eo le,s o inion#' she murmured# 'and too little "or what is %est and no%lest in us. I do not recognise the necessit! o" a "arewell %etween us an! more than I recognise that an!one who saw and heard !ou to&da! can %elieve in !our guilt.' '6ut there are so man! who did not hear and see me. 6esides' :here he turned a little and ointed to the garden in his rear;# '"or the ast wee$ a man&&I need not state who# nor under what authorit! he acts&&has %een in hiding under that ar%our# watching m! ever! movement# and almost counting m! sighs. Yesterda! he le"t "or a short s ace# %ut to&da! he is %ac$. +hat does that argue# dear "riend- Innocence# com letel! recognised# does not call "or such guardianshi .' The slight "rame o" the !oung girl %ending so innocentl! toward him shuddered involuntaril! at this# and her e!es# "rightened and "lashing# swe t over the ar%our %e"ore returning to his "ace. 'I" there is a watcher there# and i" such a "act roves !ou to %e in danger o" arrest "or a crime !ou never committed# then it %ehooves !our "riends to show where the! stand in this matter# and %! lending their s!m ath! give !ou courage and ower to meet the trials %e"ore !ou.' 'Not when the! are !oung girls#' murmured Frederic$# and casting a glance at .r. Hallida!# he ste ed so"tl! %ac$. Agnes "lushed and !ielded to her "ather,s gentle ressure. '2ood& %!e# m! "riend#' she said# the 0uiver in her tones sin$ing dee into Frederic$,s heart. '*ome da! it will %e good&morrow#' and her head# turned %ac$ over her shoulder# too$ on a %eauti"ul radiance that "i4ed itsel" "orever in the hungr! heart o" him who watched it disa ear. +hen she was 0uite gone# a man not

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the one whom Frederic$ had descri%ed# as l!ing in hiding in the ar%our# %ut a di""erent one# in "act# no other than our old "riend the consta%le&&advanced around the corner o" the house and resented a a er to him. It was the warrant "or his arrest on a charge o" murder. CCC=. *+EET+ATER 5AY* HI* /E6T AT LA*T TO .R. *>THERLAN/ Frederic$,s arrest had %een conducted so 0uietl! that no hint o" the matter reached the village %e"ore the ne4t morning. Then the whole town %ro$e into u roar# and %usiness was not onl! sus ended# %ut the streets and doc$s over"lowed with gesticulating men and e4cited women# carr!ing on in ever! corner and across innumera%le doorste s the endless de%ate which such an action on the art o" the olice necessaril! o ened. 6ut the most agitated "ace# though the stillest tongue# was not to %e seen in town that morning# %ut in a little cottage on an arid hill&slo e overloo$ing the sea. Here *weetwater sat and communed with his great monitor# the ocean# and onl! "rom his "lashing e!e and the "irm set o" his li s could the mother o" *weetwater see that the crisis o" her son,s li"e was ra idl! a roaching# and that on the outcome o" this long %rooding rested not onl! his own sel"&satis"action# %ut the interests o" the man most dear to them. *uddenl!# "rom that "ar hori7on u on which *weetwater,s e!e rested with a loo$ that was almost a demand# came an answer that "lushed him with a ho e as great as it was une4 ected. 6ounding to his "eet# he con"ronted his mother with eager e!es and outstretched hand. '2ive me mone!# all the mone! we have in the house. I have an idea that ma! %e worth all I can ever ma$e or can ever ho e to have. I" it succeeds# we save Frederic$ *utherland) i" it "ails# I have onl! to meet another o" 9na ,s scorn"ul loo$s. 6ut it won,t "ail) the ins iration came "rom the sea# and the sea# !ou $now# is m! second mother(' +hat this ins iration was he did not sa!# %ut it carried him resentl! into town and landed him in the telegra h o""ice. ...... The scene later in the da!# when Frederic$ entered the village under the guardianshi o" the olice# was indescri%a%le. .r. *utherland had insisted u on accom an!ing him# and when the well& loved "igure and white head were recognised# the throng# which had ra idl! collected in the thorough"are leading to the de ot# succum%ed to the "eelings occasioned %! this devotion# and "ell into a wondering silence.

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Frederic$ had never loo$ed %etter. There is something in the e4tremit! o" "ate which %rings out a man,s %est characteristics# and this man# having much that was good in him# showed it at that moment as never %e"ore in his short %ut over&event"ul li"e. As the carriage sto ed %e"ore the court&house on its wa! to the train# a glim se was given o" his handsome head to those who had "ollowed him closest# and as there %ecame visi%le "or the "irst time in his "ace# so altered under his trou%les# a li$eness to their %eauti"ul and commanding Agatha# a murmur %ro$e out around him that was hal" a wail and hal" a groan# and which a""ected him so that he turned "rom his "ather# whose hand he was secretl! holding# and ta$ing the whole scene in with one "lash o" his e!e# was a%out to s ea$# when a sudden hu%%u% %ro$e out in the direction o" the telegra h o""ice# and a man was seen rushing down the street holding a a er high over his head. It was *weetwater. 'News(' he cried. 'News( A ca%legram "rom the A7ores( A *wedish sailor&&' 6ut here a man with more authorit! than the amateur detective ushed his wa! to the carriage and too$ o"" his hat to .r. *utherland. 'I %eg !our ardon#' said he# '%ut the risoner will not leave town to&da!. Im ortant evidence has 3ust reached us.' .r. *utherland saw that it was in Frederic$,s "avour and "ainted on his son,s nec$. As the eo le %eheld his head "all "orward# and o%served the loo$ with which Frederic$ received him in his arms# the! %ro$e into a great shout. 'News(' the! shrie$ed. 'News( Frederic$ *utherland is innocent( *ee( the old man has "ainted "rom 3o!(' And ca s went u and tears "ell# %e"ore a mother,s son o" them $new what grounds he had "or his enthusiasm. Later# the! "ound the! were good and su%stantial ones. *weetwater had remem%ered the grou o" sailors who had assed %! the corner o" Agatha,s house 3ust as 6ats! "ell "orward on the window&sill# and ca%ling to the ca tain o" the vessel# at the "irst ort at which the! were li$el! to ut in# was "ortunate enough to receive in re l! a communication "rom one o" the men# who remem%ered the words she shouted. The! were in *wedish and none o" his mates had understood them# %ut he recalled them well. The! were1 'H3el ( H3el ( Frun haller a al% doda sig. Hon har en $ni". H3el ( H3el (' In English1 'Hel ( Hel ( .! mistress $ills hersel". *he has a $ni"e. Hel ( Hel ('

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The im ossi%le had occurred. 6ats! was not dead# or at least her testimon! still remained and had come at *weetwater,s %ec$ "rom the other side o" the sea to save her mistress,s son. ...... *weetwater was a made man. And Frederic$- In a wee$ he was the idol o" the town. In a !ear&&%ut let Agnes,s contented "ace and ha ! smile show what he was then. *weet Agnes# who "irst des ised# then encouraged# then loved him# and who# ne4t to Agatha# commanded the o en worshi o" his heart. Agatha is "irst# must %e "irst# as an!one can see who %eholds him# on a certain anniversar! o" each !ear# %ur! his "ace in the long grass which covers the saddest and most assionate heart which ever !ielded to the ressure o" li"e,s dee est traged!.

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