k, but she looked her
thanks and glided toward the other room.

"Do not speak to him and do not let him speak," whispered the doctor.
"Everything depends upon keeping him perfectly still, so that nature may
not be interrupted in doing her portion of the work."

Mrs Winthorpe bowed her head in acquiescence, and with a promise that
he would return later in the day the doctor departed.

Dick found, a short time after, that the news had been carried to the
works at the drain, where Mr Marston was busy; and no sooner did that
gentleman hear of the state of affairs than he hurried over to offer his
sympathy to Mrs Winthorpe and Dick.

"I little thought that your father was to be a victim," he said to the
latter as soon as they were alone. "I have been trying my hand to fix
the guilt upon somebody, but so far I have failed. Come, Dick, you and
I have not been very good friends lately, and I must confess that I have
been disposed to think you knew something about these outrages."

"Yes, I knew you suspected me, Mr Marston."

"Not suspected you, but that you knew something about them; but I beg
your pardon: I am sorry I ever thought such things; and I am sure you
will forgive me, for indeed I do not think you know anything of the kind
now."

Dick quite started as he gazed in Mr Marston's face, so strangely that
the engineer wondered, and then felt chilled once more and stood without
speaking.

Mr Marston took a step up and down for a few moments and then turned to
Dick again.

"Look here, my lad," he said. "I don't like for there to be anything
between us. I want to be friends with you, for I like you, Richard
Winthorpe; but you keep on making yourself appear so guilty that you
repel me. Speak to me, Dick, and say out downright, like a man, that
you know nothing about this last affair."

Dick looked at him wildly, but remained silent.

"Come!" said Mr Marston sternly, and he fixed the lad with his eye;
"there has been a dastardly outrage committed and your father nearly
murdered. Tell me plainly whether you know whose hand fired the shot."

No answer.

"Dick, my good lad, I tell you once more that I do not suspect you--only
that you know who was the guilty party."

Still no answer.

"It is your duty to speak, boy," cried Mr Marston angrily. "You are
not afraid to speak out?"

"I--I don't know," said Dick.

"Then you confess that you do know who fired at your father?"

"I did not confess," said Dick