at the new
man, whoever he may be, mustn't go into the creek. You are the sort of a
reformer that this community has needed. Well, gentlemen, I've got to
get home. Issue your proclamation, sir, and send for the other
twenty-five."

Parker said that it was time for him to go, and, adding that he would
meet Jucklin in town, left us at the door.

Mrs. Jucklin was brighter than I had expected to find her, and when I
told her what Conkwright had said, that Alf would surely be acquitted,
the light of a new hope leaped into her eyes.

"I told Limuel that God would not permit such a wrong," she said.
"Didn't I, Limuel?"

"You said something about it, Susan; I have forgot exactly what it was.
It's all right if the judge says he knows it. Yes, sir, it's all right.
But we'll leave here all the same. Don't reckon we'll ever come back;
can't stand to be p'inted at. Fight a man in a minit if he p'ints at
me."

"Oh, Limuel, don't talk about fighting when we are in so much trouble."

"Fight a man in a minit if he p'ints at me. Knock down a sign-post if it
p'ints at me. Well, we want a little bite to eat. Been about six weeks
since I eat anything, it seems like."

All this time I was wondering where Guinea could be, and was startled by
every sound. The mother asked me how Alf looked and how he had acted
when I had pictured Millie's leaving home; and I told her mechanically,
wondering, listening; and I broke off suddenly, for I thought there was
a footstep at the door. No, it was a chicken in the passage. They asked
me many questions and I answered without hearing my own words. Mrs.
Jucklin went out to the dining-room and the old man began to talk about
his chickens. He had found them bloody and stiff, and had buried them in
a box lined with an old window curtain. And now there was a step at the
door. I looked up and Guinea stood there, looking back, listening to her
mother. And thus she stood a long time, I thought, and yet she must have
known that I was in the room. Mr. Jucklin spoke to her and she came in,
walking very slowly. Her face was pale, with a sadness that smote my
heart. She sat down and looked out of the window. Mrs. Jucklin called
the old man, and when he was gone I told Guinea that I had left Alf in a
convulsive joy; and, still looking out of the window, she said: "You are
the noblest man I ever met."

I sprang to my feet, but quickly she lifted her hand and motioned me
back, though she still looked away. "Sit d