victim, did astounding execution on something else.

We were standing, at the moment, on a drift of leaves that had lain
inside the hut. Mr. Horton's vigorous kick sent a shower of these
leaves flying in all directions, and disclosed, half hidden beneath
them, a large, square, leather-bound volume, on which my eyes rested
in amazed recognition, while Guard, with a bark of delight, took his
station beside it, wagging his tail joyfully.

I looked at Mr. Horton, whose face, under its mask of blood and dirt,
had turned the color of gray ashes. He began to back slowly away
toward his horse.

"Wait!" I cried; "I want you to tell me--you must tell me, Mr. Horton,
what you were doing last night. How came Jessie's dictionary here?"

"Jessie's dictionary?" His voice rose in a shrill cry, that made me
jump, and drew a warning growl from Guard.

I thought of the window beside Ralph's crib, that Jessie so stoutly
averred she did not leave open, and light dawned upon me. "Yes!" I
repeated, sternly, contempt for the wretch before me overcoming all
fear; "Jessie's dictionary." I had, by this time, picked up the book.
Mr. Horton extended his hand toward it; and his tone was almost humble
as he said:

"Let me see it."

When the book was in his hands, he turned over the leaves, examining
them with evident surprise and bewilderment. Finally:

"It is a dictionary, ain't it?" he said, feebly, and repeated, under
his breath. "It is a dictionary!"

"You thought, when you opened the window last night, and stole it off
the ledge, that it was the Bible, with our family record in it, didn't
you?" I recklessly inquired. But Mr. Horton was past being angry.

"Yes, I did," he said, making the admission as if still dazed.

"And you left the window open?" I went on.

"Yes, I did. The dog took after me--the dog has been hot on my trail
from first to last, it 'pears, and you ain't been fur behind him."

"No," I admitted, glancing at his torn coat, from which the upper
button was still absent, "I don't think I have. I even have a bit of
your property as a reward for some of my work. There's a button
missing from your coat. I found it."

"Where?" Mr. Horton inquired, in a low voice.

"Under the window that you are so fond of visiting; the one that you
started the fire under some weeks ago."

Mr. Horton stirred uneasily, and again glanced toward his horse. "You
think I lost the button there, do you?"

"I know you did."

Mr. Horton did