of a
man long athirst.

"Where is Green?" I heard him inquire, as he set his glass upon the
counter.

"Haven't seen anything of him since supper," was answered by Matthew.

"Is he in his room?"

"I think it probable."

"Has Judge Lyman been about here tonight?"

"Yes. He spouted here for half an hour against the temperance party, as
usual, and then"--Matthew tossed his head toward the door leading to
the sitting-room.

Hammond was moving toward this door, when, in glancing around the room,
he encountered the fixed gaze of Mr. Harrison--a gaze that instantly
checked his progress. Returning to the bar, and leaning over the
counter, he said to Matthew:

"What has sent him here?"

Matthew winked knowingly.

"After the boys?" inquired Hammond.

"Yes."

"Where are they?"

"Up-stairs."

"Does he suspect this?"

"I can't tell. If he doesn't think them here now, he is looking for
them to come in."

"Do they know he is after them?"

"Oh, yes."

"All safe then?"

"As an iron chest. If you want to see them, just rap at No. 4."

Hammond stood for some minutes leaning on the bar, and then, not once
again looking toward that part of the room where Mr. Harrison was
seated, passed out through the door leading to the street. Soon
afterward Mr. Harrison departed.

Disgusted as on the night before, with the unceasing flow of vile,
obscene, and profane language, I left my place of observation in the
bar-room and sought the open air. The sky was unobscured by a single
cloud, and the moon, almost at the full, shone abroad with more than
common brightness. I had not been sitting long in the porch, when the
same lady, whose movements had attracted my attention, came in sight,
walking very slowly--the deliberate pace assumed, evidently, for the
purpose of better observation. On coming opposite the tavern, she
slightly paused, as on the evening before, and then kept on, passing
down the street until she was beyond observation.

"Poor mother!" I was still repeating to myself, when her form again met
my eyes. Slowly she advanced, and now came in nearer to the house. The
interest excited in my mind was so strong, that I could not repress the
desire I felt to address her, and so stepped from the shadow of the
porch. She seemed startled, and retreated backward several paces.

"Are you in search of any one?" I inquired, respectfully.

The woman now stood in a position that let the moon shine full upon her
face, reve