ddened men. Three shots were fired in quick succession, and a cry of "Oh, my

oo, but I knew no way to tell one from the other, and my ignorance had nearly brought me to my death. I hesitated to move, but I could not

stop it, for the first opening showed a dim light within. But the panel gave no hold for my fingers, and my efforts to close the door on

called a

of an alarm, and probably a bullet as a discourager of burglary. Should I escape this, I could be certain of a warm reception from the e

said the harsh voice co

d gravely, swallowing my

g were the most commonplace thing in the world. A candle furnished a dim, flickering light

aid, "I have los

ther Borton. "You are

ad intruded," I s

" she repeated.

no sign of another person to be se

urt you." There was so much meaning in her tone of the things that would hurt me on the f

re her with as much an appearance of ja

at are you doing her

"Who are you?" she repeated impatiently, gazing

ord of a rough and evil life, as it appeared,

Dudley,-Gi

is Wi

ea

sappeared from her eyes, and the hard lines settl

y; and then I described the leading

and with hardly the movement o

ft his job to you?"

ou, Mrs. Borton, I know nothing about his job. I'm going

looked at me

"You put your hands to a job you know nothing about, when H

sts that I'm Wilton. If I'm to have my throat slit for him I might as

on her hand, and gazed on me t

. There's a train for the East in the mornin'. Just

the man who killed Henry Wilton. When that score is settled, I'll go to

ed it back and forth before my face. In he

herself, with a strange laugh. "Tell me

ed Doddri

with him?" she said with a ch

said I

him the people of the city

exclaimed indignantly. "The law shall take h

gave a low g

ain she absorbed her mirthless laugh, and gave me an evil grin. Then she became gr

I returne

ice for such a purpose and it grated. "For my sake I'd like to see you go on and wipe out the whole raft of 'em. But I know what'll happen to ye,

's eyes, and her hard, wicked face soften

believe you want to. I trust you. Tell me what to do-where I stand. I'm all

except Henry Wilton that's trusted me in forty years, and you won't be sorry for it, my boy.

oing, was it? I thou

know what to do. It

old crone considered, and her face

can

? Who is this boy? Why is he hidden, and why do these people want to

lmost frantically. This was the first time I had

rton gave

ell you, my dear,

ne me a great service, but if I am to save myself from the d

ou're in a hard row o

u can h

myself, 'I'll save that young fellow,' an' I done it. And I'll do more. Mr. Wilton was a fine gentleman, an

around at the shadows thro

iently. "Who is the

tell you what I know. Then maybe we'll ha

urge her. I bowed my

throat can be cut as quick as your

anity. I have omitted most of her references to sacred a

y're rich. The ones as is looking for the boy i

ow

ther Borton. "I'm tellin' yo

egan to suspect that sh

" I asked, taking the que

-sull

protecti

n't k

rying to

leading the hunt, along with Darby Meeker

ge Knapp be

ed at me suddenly

ispered. "Don't

I s

r hand ove

don't know where. He's an awful man. He's ev

king or creaking sound turned around with half an expecta

en but the flickering shadows, and no s

othing,

his old house," said Mother Borton with a nervous giggle. "I've

o to you?" I asked

e Knapp or his ghost was seen killing a Chinaman over at North Beach, while Doddridge Knapp or his ghost,-

I; "where did you

Knapp or the devil, it's all one. But it's ill saying things of them that can be in two places at once." And the old d

to be gained by pursuing them. The killing of the Chinaman might have been something to my h

ou know?" I asked

ied to remember

g to keep a knife from bet

m Terrill and his hounds, and

be the head man

es

are m

and Porter and Brown," and

hat is

his finger on Dicky Nahl,"

is his

him thick as thieves with Tom Terrill, and which he's thickest w

bring me her

where the new one was to be, I reckon, but Tom Terrill spoiled things. He's lightning, is Tom

was sharp enough to hide a knowledge that might be dangerous, even fatal, to reveal.

"It's nearly four o'clock, and everything seems to

up the chase yet. Your men have gone home, I reckon, but I'll bet

nt prospect,"

e room next to this one is

candle as we passed through the hall that no gl

ay. Go to sleep and git some rest. You ain't ha

s the advice appeared good. I was probably safe

h we don't get no brides down here. There won't be no sun to bother your eyes in the mornin', for that window don't open up outside. So there, can't nobod

e door behind her, and

ould be my friends; and before daylight I might be lying here with my throat slit. At the reflection I hastily bolted the door, and

down stairs," I thought,

could not sleep, but I would lie down on the bed and rest my tired limbs, that I might refresh mys

walls and ceiling. The shadows grew larger and blacker, and took fantastic shapes of men and beasts. And then with a confused impressi