on't!"

"But who could have set such a trap?" persisted Dock.

"You didn't--did you?" added the old man, innocently.

"Of course I didn't. You don't think I'd do such a thing as that," said
Dock, laughing.

"My wife didn't--did she?"

"Massy sakes! What's got into your head, Nathan?" interposed the old
lady. "Goodness knows I didn't do no sech thing."

Mrs. Fairfield was a simple-minded woman, and she did not comprehend
that her disabled lord was only reasoning by an interrogatory and
inductive method.

"Certainly Mrs. Fairfield didn't meddle with the plank," added Dock.

"'Twan't Mr. Watson--was it? nor the Watson gal, nuther?"

"No," answered Dock.

"Who was it, then--don't you see?"

Dock did not choose to see yet, though his mental visuals had perceived
from the beginning what the old man was driving at; and he was greatly
rejoiced to have the suspicion turned away from himself.

"Who else goes down on to that P'int, almost every day of the week,
'cept Sunday?--and he don't go then 'cause he's go'n' to jine the
church," continued the miser, excited by the topic he was discussing.

"You don't mean Levi--do you?" said Dock, opening his eyes as wide as
the hawse-holes of a man-of-war.

"I see The Starry Flag a standin' over to Mr. Watson's new house when I
was goin' down to the P'int."

"Did you?" asked Dock, when the old man paused to note the effect of
the climax of the inductive argument upon the listener.

"I sartainly did. That proves that Levi went down to the P'int afore I
did--don't it?"

"Well--yes; he went down there, of course," added Dock, in rather
deprecating tones. "He couldn't have got his boat if he hadn't gone
down there."

"Then of course Levi done it!" exclaimed the old man. "'Tain't no use
o' beating round the bush no more. Levi done it, and he meant to kill
me."

"'Tain't so!" protested Mrs. Fairfield, warmly. "There ain't no sense
nor reason in sayin' Levi done it. Levi wouldn't do sech a thing."

"He may jine all the churches in town, but I tell you he's a bad boy,
and he's go'n' as straight to the gallows as a chicken goes to her
dough. Don't you know how he used me? how he fit me, and found fault
with his victuals; and then got all the property took away from me,
jest because I wouldn't let him spend it all? Don't tell me! I know
what Levi Fairfield is better 'n any other man."

"What on airth should the boy wan't to break your bones for, let alone
killin' on you?"