n cheated out of its victim,
its pent-up indignation sought eagerly some new channel.

"Where's Slade?" some one asked, in a loud voice, from the centre of
the crowded bar-room. "Why does he keep himself out of sight?"

"Yes; where's the landlord?" half a dozen voices responded.

"Did he go on the hunt?" some one inquired.

"No!" "No!" "No!" ran around the room. "Not he."

"And yet, the murder was committed in his own house, and before his own
eyes!"

"Yes, before his own eyes!" repeated one and another, indignantly.

"Where's Slade? Where's the landlord? Has anybody seen him tonight?
Matthew, where's Simon Slade?"

From lip to lip passed these interrogations; while the crowd of men
became agitated, and swayed to and fro.

"I don't think he's home," answered the bar-keeper, in a hesitating
manner, and with visible alarm.

"How long since he was here?"

"I haven't seen him for a couple of hours."

"That's a lie!" was sharply said.

"Who says it's a lie?" Matthew affected to be strongly indignant.

"I do!" And a rough, fierce-looking man confronted him.

"What right have you to say so?" asked Matthew, cooling off
considerably.

"Because you lie!" said the man, boldly. "You've seen him within a less
time than half an hour, and well you know it. Now, if you wish to keep
yourself out of this trouble, answer truly. We are in no mood to deal
with liars or equivocators. Where is Simon Slade?"

"I do not know," replied Matthew, firmly.

"Is he in the house?"

"He may be, or he may not be. I am just as ignorant of his exact
whereabouts as you are."

"Will you look for him?"

Matthew stepped to the door, opening from behind the bar, and called
the name of Frank.

"What's wanted?" growled the boy.

"Is your father in the house?"

"I don't know, nor don't care," was responded in the same ungracious
manner.

"Someone bring him into the bar-room, and we'll see if we can't make
him care a little."

The suggestion was no sooner made, than two men glided behind the bar,
and passed into the room from whence the voice of Frank had issued. A
moment after they reappeared, each grasping an arm of the boy, and
bearing him like a weak child between them. He looked thoroughly
frightened at this unlooked-for invasion of his liberty.

"See here, young man." One of the leading spirits of the crowd
addressed him, as soon as he was brought in front of the counter. "If
you wish to keep out of trouble, answer our qu