ack from the door. He heard her footsteps
approaching. Wondering what she was going to do he withdrew out of
sight. The door opened, and Eve stood leaning against the casing. He
could only see her outline against the lamplight behind her, for her
face was lost in the shadow. It seemed to him that she was staring
out at the saloon. Maybe she was waiting till the lights were put
out, and so she would know the trial was over. Maybe, even, she
was contemplating going down there in search of the news she was so
fearfully awaiting. These suggestions occurred to Elia, for he had
a tremendously shrewd knowledge of his sister, as he had of most
people with whom he came into contact.

It occurred to him now that it was time he showed himself. The
grinding pains in his body would no longer be denied. He must get
inside and rest.

"Sis," he called in a low voice. "Ho, sis!"

The woman started as the boy hobbled out into the light.

"Elia!" she cried. And the next moment she would have clasped him in
her arms, and hugged him to her bosom. But he drew back. He feared
her embraces. Nor was he in the mood to submit to them.

"Don't be a fule, sis. I'm tired--dog tired. I'm sick, too. I believe
somethin's broken inside me."

He pushed her on one side and hurried into the room.

"Come in an' shut that gol-durned door," he cried, without turning, as
he made his way to the rocking-chair. He dropped into it, his face
contorting hideously with the awful pain the process caused him.

But the spasm passed after a few moments, and when he looked up Eve
was standing before him. He eyed her silently for some time. He was
wondering just how much she knew.

There was little doubt in his mind that she knew a great deal. Horror
and suffering were so deeply lined upon her young face, and in her
beautiful eyes was such a wild, hunted look, that there was very
little doubt in his mind that she knew what most of the village knew
by this time. But she didn't know all he knew, not by a lot. And she
wasn't going to know it all. Only some of it. She was suffering. So
was he--in a different way. He would help her to suffer more yet. It
was good to see other folks suffering.

"Who's bin here, sis?" he demanded.

"Only Annie. But, Elia, tell me you--you didn't meet Will?"

The boy chuckled without any visible sign. Even the pain of his body
could not rob him of his cruel love of inflicting pain. He ignored her
question for the moment.

"Annie?"