rested by Adam Adams and was
asked where Matlock Styles could be found.

"I don't know," he answered sullenly. "I don't know why you are
arresting me. I haven't done anything wrong."

"We'll see about that later," returned the detective, and when the man
wanted to blow a whistle he carried, promptly prevented it, and took
the whistle away. Then the man was compelled to quiet the dogs, which
he did with bad grace.

In the kitchen of the house they found the old woman, who gave a cry of
alarm when told that she must give herself up to the law.

"Sure, I didn't have anything to do with it!" she wailed. "I--I didn't
touch the young lady!"

"What's that?" cried Raymond, stepping forward.

"I didn't touch the young lady, sir. I offered her something to eat,
that's all."

"Can she mean Margaret?" whispered Tom Ostrello.

"Where did you meet Miss Langmore?" demanded Raymond sharply.

"Up at the old cottage on the hill. I--I didn't take her there. It
was--" She stopped short. "I can't tell you. Mat would kill me,"
she whined.

"See here, tell all you know," came sternly from Adam Adams. "I know
you. You once ran a baby farm, and a baby died, and I know how."

The old woman gave a shriek and fell on her knees, rocking to and fro.

"I knew it! I knew it would come! It can't be hid any longer! Yes, I
did it!"

"Where is Miss Langmore?" demanded Raymond impatiently.

"At the cottage on the hill. Mat took her there. He's in love with
her. Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" she began to rock to and fro again. "I
knew it would come! Murder will out, they say!"

"Take us to that cottage and be quick about it," said Raymond. "Will
you go along?" he asked of Adam Adams and Tom Ostrello.

They said they would, and set off without delay. It was rather a long
walk and the old woman was out of breath when they reached the building
near the top of the hill.

"Watch her," said the detective to Tom Ostrello, and he and Raymond
entered the cottage. As they did so, they stumbled over a person lying
on the floor.

"Margaret!" burst out the young man and caught his sweetheart in his
arms. Then he gave a gasp, and staggered with his burden to the bed.
"She is dead!"

"Dead!" ejaculated Adam Adams. "You are certain?" He placed his ear
to her heart. "No, she still lives."

"But what does this mean? Margaret! Margaret! Speak to me! What has
happened to you?"

The girl offered no reply, nor did she open her e