the large family but what had occurred to night whence came those galloping hoofs and what was the explanation of s condition the quickly yielded to the usual but even when she revived it was ft he emergency men before the girl could speak her voice was broken by hysterical sobs she trembled in every limb it was evident that her nerves had received a severe shock while the others were occupied with dick had stepped out on the gravel sweep where he was endeavouring by close examination to discover some clue to the puzzle suddenly he ran back into the house something s on fire he cried i believe it s the yard they all pressed to the open door � all except mrs who still busied herself with her daughter and whose sole interest was in the girl he loved above a fringe of which the farm yard a red glow lit up the sky it was evident the buildings were on fire and even while they looked a man half dressed panting dashed up the steps it was tom one of the emergency men these men slept in the yard in the quarters by the coachman in a few breathless words the big raw told the story of the last half hour he and his comrade had been awakened by suspicious sounds in the yard descending they had found the cattle shed in flames had forced his way in and had and driven out the terrified the poor animals wild with terror had burst from the yard and galloped the emergency men off in the direction of the house this accounted for the hoofs that had swept across the lawn but scarcely for s terrified condition a country bred girl like miss would not lose her wits over the spectacle of a dozen fat oxen broken loose from their had the barn been purposely burned and had the girl fallen in with the retreating it seemed likely no one there doubted the origin of the fire and mr expressed the general feeling as he shook his head and muttered i that they would n t let us get them cattle out o the country without some trouble but where is demanded jack suddenly is n t he here asked the when we seen the fire he started up to the big house to give the alarm while i turned to to save the no he never came to the house answered jack and there was an added gravity in his manner as he turned to his brother get a lantern dick this thing must be looked into at once while the boy went in search of a light mr attempted to obtain from his daughter a connected statement of what had happened and how much she had seen but she was in no condition to answer questions the poor girl could only sob and moan and cover her face t the emergency men hands while shook her slight figure oh don t ask me papa don t speak to me about it it was dreadful � dreadful i saw it all this was all they could gain from her don t the poor young lady interposed old peter sure the heart s put in her the fright lave her be till there seemed nothing else to be done so was left in charge of her mother and sister while the men headed by dick who carried a lantern set out to examine the grounds there was no trace of between the house and the farm yard the lawn was much cut up by the cattle for the frost had turned to rain early in the evening and a rapid was in progress the ground was quite soft on the surface and it was carefully for traces of footsteps but nothing could be distinguished among the prints of the in the yard all was quiet the fire had died down the roof of the cattle shed had fallen in and smothered the last embers the bam was a ruin but no other damage had been done and there were no signs of the missing man they turned back this time making a wider circle almost under the kitchen window grew a dense thicket of laurel and other shrubs dick stooped and let the light of the lantern penetrate beneath the overhanging branches the emergency there within three steps of the house lay pale and blood stained with a sickening in his temple � a murdered man old peter was the first to break the silence the lord be good to him they ve done for him this time an no mistake the lifeless body was lifted gently and borne toward the house hastened in advance to make sure that none of the ladies were to be shocked by the sight the hall was deserted doubtless s condition demanded all their attention the girl saw him murdered muttered mr i thought it must have been something out of the common to upset her so d ye think did she sir asked old peter eagerly i have n t a doubt of it replied the old gentleman shortly thank goodness her evidence will hang the villain whoever he may be ah the poor thing the poor thing murmured the servant and then the sad procession entered the house the body was laid on a table it would have been useless to send for a surgeon there was not one to be found within several miles and it was but too evident that life was extinct the top of the man s head was beaten to a he had been to death if it costs me every shilling i have in the world and my life to the boot of it said mr the emergency men i see the that did the deed swing for their night s work assented peter solemnly and jack s handsome face darkened as he mentally 