The Huttig news., 1910-06-11

Hotchkiss was listening absently; Mcknight was whistling under his breath. staring down across the field to where a break in the woods showed half dozen telegraph poles, the line of the railroad
 Tt must have been 12 o'clock when we got back; I wanted the children to see everything, because it isn't likely they'll ever see another wreck like that. Rows of"
 About 12 o'clock" broke in, "and what then?'
 The young man upstairs was awake" she went on, "hammering at his door like all possessed. And it was locked on the outsidel' She paused to enjoy her sensation. q would like to see that lock-. Hotchkiss said promptly but for some reason the woman demurred. T will bring the key down. she said and dis appeared. When she returned she held out an ordinary door key of the cheapest variety.
 We had to break the lock-" she vol unteered. "and the key didn't turn up tVt tNo NdS uCI OHt Ol lht tWtho found the turkey gobbler trying to | swallow it. It has been washed since, she hastened to assure Hotehkiss, who showed an inclination to drop it.
 You don't think he locked the door | himself and threw the key out of the window?" the little man asked.
 "The windows are covered with mosquito netting, nailed on. The mis- ter blamed it on the children, and it might have been Obadiah. He's the quiet kind, and you never know what he's about"
 Hes about to strangle. isn't he,'' Mcknight remarked lazily, Tor Is that Obadiah?'
 Mrs. Carter picked the boy up and inverted him, talking amiably all the time. He's always doing it. she said giving him a shake. Whenever we miss anything we look to see if Obadiah's black in the face" She gave another shake, and the quarter I had given him shot out as if blown from gun. Then we prepared to go back to the station.
 From where I stood l could look into the cheery farm kitchen, where Alison West and I had eaten our al fresco breakfast. l looked at the table with mixed emotions, and then, gradually, the meaning of some thing on it penetrated my mind. Still In it's papers. evidently just. opened, was a hat box, and protruding over | the edge of the box was a streamef of vivid green ribbon.
 On the plea that l wished to ask Mrs. Carter a few more questions | let the others go on. l watched them down the fagstone walk; saw Me Knight stop and examine the gate posts and saw, too the quick glance he threw back at the house. Then | turned to Mrs Carter
 'I would like to speak to the young lady upstairs l said.
 She threw up her hands with a quick gesture of surrender I've done all I could,'' she exclaimed Sine won't like it very we'll but-s she's II the room over the parlor.
 I went eagerly up the ladder-liEe stairs, to the rag caepeted hall Two doors were open. showing interiors of four poster beds and high bureaus. The door of the room over the parlor was almost closed. l hesitated in tke hallway; after all what right had I to intrude on her? But she settled my difficulty by throwing open the door and facing me.
 Fl beg your pardon, Miss West, stammered "It has just occurred to me that l am unpardonably rude. saw the hat downstairs and I-I | guessed.
 "The hati" she said. q might have known. Does Richey know l am here?'
 .I don't think SO" I turned to go down the stairs again. Then l halted. The fact is, I said. in an attempt at Justification. I'm in rather a mess these days, and I'm apt to do ire sponsible things It is not impossible that I shall be arrested, in day or so. for the murder of Simon Harring- ton
 She drew her breath in sharply "Murder,1 she echoed. Then they have found you after all" 
 .I don't regard it as anything more than-er er-inconvenient," I lied. They can't convict me. you know. Almost all the witnesses are dead
 She was not deceived for a moment She came over to me and stood. both hands on the rail of stair. "I know just how grave it is" she said quiet l ly My grandfather will not leave one 1 stone unturned, and he can be terrible terrible But''-sbe looked directly into my eyes as 1 stood below her on the stairs-"the time may come soon-when I can help you. I'm afraid I shall not want to; I'm a dreadful coward, Mir Blakeiey. But --I will" She tried to smile.
 q wish you would let me help you.' I said unsteadily Let us make it a bargain: each help the other'"
 The girl shook her head with a sad little smile T am only as unhappy as deserve to he" she said And when I DrataSted and took a Sten tO-