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The watchers reirl peered first in one direction and then in another, seeking an explanation of the sounds which had disturbed her Her broere contracted into a scowl of apprehension which remained even after she returned to her labors, and that she was ill at ease was further evidenced by the frequent pauses she lewood surrounding the clearing

At last the grave was dug The girl cli at her feet For a moment she stood there as silent andof birds disturbed the quiet of the wood Bridge felt a soft hand slipped into his and slender fingers grip his own, He turned his eyes to see the boy at his side gazing ide eyes and tre Involuntarily the htly upon the youth's

And as they stood thus the silence was shattered by a loud and human sneeze from the thicket not fifty feet fro was electrified into action Like a tigress charging those who stalked her she leaped swiftly across the clearing toward the point fro coh, a slender knife gleae and his companions heard the sounds of a swift and short pursuit followed by voices, one ; and aa boy with her--a wide-eyed, terrified, country boy who begged and blubbered to no avail

Beside the dead ht hand she still held theme for?" she demanded "Tell me the truth, or I kill you," and she half raised the knife that he uments

The boy cowered "I didn't come fer to watch you," he whioin' to be a dee-tectiff, an' I'asped and stammered: "But not you I'm lookin' for another murderer"

For the first tiirl's lips

"What other murderer?" she asked "Who has been ht," said Willie Case ossip inald Paynter was ail Prih they do say as she had a hand in it, bein' seen with Paynter an' The Oskaloosie Kid jest afore the murder"