p the road. He did not wish to go back to the silence of his own
cabin. If he could only speak to some one and feel that all were not
against him it would be some comfort. He thought of Lois, and wondered
if she were at the Haven. He was certain that she would not believe
him guilty of such a cowardly deed, but would stand by him to the last.
Yes, she was the very one, and he would go to her at once. His step
quickened as this impulse possessed him and he hurried rapidly along
the road, with swinging strides.

"Hello, you seem to be in a great hurry."

Jasper started at these words, stopped short and looked in the
direction from whence the voice came. As he did so his face darkened,
for there, sitting before his easel not far from the road, was Sydney
Bramshaw.

His brush was poised in hand as if he had merely paused in his work of
sketching a bunch of birch trees a short distance away.

"You seem to be in a great hurry," the artist repeated, evidently
enjoying the forbidding expression upon Jasper's face.

"Well, what of it?" was the curt reply. "It's a free country, isn't
it?"

"That all depends," and Bramshaw laid down his brush in a thoughtful
manner. "It might be free to one and not to another. You and I can do
about as we please to-day, and no one will try to interfere with us.
But it isn't the same with the one who put that poor old man out of
business last night. He isn't free in the sense we are."

"So you've heard about it, have you?" Jasper questioned.

"Oh, yes. The whole country is wild with the news. I have been
talking to a number of people and they are greatly worked up over the
cowardly deed. Poor old David! He certainly was an innocent cuss."

"When did you first hear about it?" Jasper enquired.

"Not until late this morning. I am a sound sleeper."

"You surely must be. I don't see how any man could sleep with all the
noise the men made passing along the road last night. Were you up
late, eh?"

"What do you mean?" and an angry light leaped into Bramshaw's eyes. "I
wish you to know that I went to sleep with the birds last night."

"I am glad to hear of it. You didn't always keep such good hours,
especially one night when I caught you prowling about my place.
Perhaps a hint to the wise was sufficient, and you have changed your
manner of living."

"D---- you!" Bramshaw cried, rising to his feet. "I was willing to be
friendly with you, but you insult me to my face."