ith an expressive
leer.

"She?" he repeated, starting back.

"Yes, she; the pretty young lady, the pert and haughty Miss Dare, that
had but to speak to make the whole crowd stand back. What had she to do
with it, I say? Something, or she wouldn't be here!"

"I don't know what you are talking about," he replied, conscious of a
strange and unaccountable dismay at thus hearing his own passing doubt
put into words by this vile and repellent being. "Miss Dare is a
stranger. She has nothing to do either with this affair or the poor
woman who has suffered by it. Her interest is purely one of sympathy."

"Hi! and you call yourself a smart one, I dare say." And the old
creature ironically chuckled. "Well, well, well, what fools men are!
They see a pretty face, and blind themselves to what is written on it as
plain as black writing on a white wall. They call it sympathy, and never
stop to ask why she, of all the soft-hearted gals in the town, should be
the only one to burst into that house like an avenging spirit! But it's
all right," she went on, in a bitterly satirical tone. "A crime like
this can't be covered up, however much you may try; and sooner or later
we will all know whether this young lady has had any thing to do with
Mrs. Clemmens' murder or not."

"Stop!" cried Mr. Byrd, struck in spite of himself by the look of
meaning with which she said these last words. "Do you know any thing
against Miss Dare which other folks do not? If you do, speak, and let me
hear at once what it is. But--" he felt very angry, though he could not
for the moment tell why--"if you are only talking to gratify your
spite, and have nothing to tell me except the fact that Miss Dare
appeared shocked and anxious when she came from the widow's house just
now, look out what use you make of her name, or you will get yourself
into trouble. Mr. Orcutt and Mr. Ferris are not men to let you go
babbling round town about a young lady of estimable character." And he
tightened the grip he had taken upon her arm and looked at her
threateningly.

The effect was instantaneous. Slipping from his grasp, she gazed at him
with a sinister expression and edged slowly away.

"I know any thing?" she repeated. "What should I know? I only say the
young lady's face tells a very strange story. If you are too dull or too
obstinate to read it, it's nothing to me." And with another leer and a
quick look up and down the street, as if she half feared to encounter
one or