irst to speak. "Somebody

a moment," add

pped out of the dark

inquire,

follow

with you,

ft interposed

ther may be wanted later. If any accident has happened (which God forbid!) we ma

gnation to circumstances), I need hardly add that I, too, retired, as soon as it was politely possible for me to leave the room. Ascending the stairs on my way to my own quarters, I discovered Naomi half hidden by the recess formed by an old-fashioned window-seat on the first landing. My bright little frien

oved that the missing man had never been near Narrabee. The only attainable tidings of his whereabouts were tidings derived from vague report. It was said that a man like John Jago had been seen the

really gone wrong. I kept my doubts to myself; but I was prepared, from that

e results decla

t care for consequences. Public opinion declared on this occasion that the lost man was the victim of foul play, and held one or both of the brothers Meadowcroft responsible for his disappearance. Later in the day, the reasonableness of this serious view of the case was confirmed in the popular mind by a startling discovery. It was announced that a Methodist preacher lately settled at Morwick, and

en, Mr. Meadowcroft the elder displayed a spir

d badly and ungratefully toward John Jago; I don't deny that, either. But Ambrose and Silas are not murderers. M

s, elected competent persons to represent the public interests, and began the search the next day. The whole proceeding, ridiculously informal from a legal poin

solutely as her uncle himself. The girl's courage rose with t

ches in this neighborhood are wicked enough to s

the popular mind, the absence of Ambrose

suggested, "if you only knew where a

" she replied. "I was sent there, after my father's death

message, and Naomi was looking over my shoulder, when we

it?" said the voice. "We wan

to me. Naomi recognized h

his address for?"

o, miss," the man replied. "We have got Silas alrea

ed Naomi, furious

turned

om, mister," he said, "and

ther into th

ging helpless, we next discovered Silas Meadowcroft, plainly self-betrayed as a panic-stricken man. A few of the persons who had been engaged in the search were seated near, watching him. The mass o

ded Silas Meadowcroft's hand. The buttons Naomi herself declared to have a peculiar pattern on them, which had formerly attracted her attention to John Jago's coat. As for the stick, burned as it was, I had no difficulty in identifying the quaintly-carved knob at the top. It was the hea

whispered to me as we d

n sheer cruelty t

pered back; "

ations were made forthwith to a justice of the peace, and the justice issued his warrant. That

o choice but to wait for news of Ambrose, and for the examination before the magistrate which was to follow. I shall pass over the misery in the house during the interval of expectation; no useful purpose could be served by describing it now. Let me only say tha

e was on his way to Morwick. The next day he arrived, and followed his brother to prison. Th

e willful murder of John Jago. I was cited to appear as one of the witnesses; and, at Naomi's own request, I took the poor girl

rest and quiet; and thus did time and chance fulfill my first h