might have found his ears boxed. Afy dropped her hand again, and made a
dead standstill.

"If you think any vile, false insinuations that you may concoct will
injure me, you are mistaken, Ebenezer James. I am too much respected in
the place. So don't try it on."

"Why, Afy, what has put you out? I don't want to injure you. Couldn't do
it, if I tried, as you say," he added, with another quiet laugh. "I have
been in too many scrapes myself to let my tongue bring other folks into
one."

"There, that's enough. Just take yourself off. It's not over reputable
to have you at one's side in public."

"Well, I will relieve you of my company, if you'll let me deliver my
commission. Though, as to 'reputable'--however, I won't put you out
further. You are wanted at the justice-room at three o'clock this
afternoon. And don't fail, please."

"Wanted at the justice-room!" retorted Afy. "I! What for?"

"And must not fail, as I say," repeated Mr. Ebenezer. "You saw Levison
taken up--your old flame----"

Afy stamped her foot in indignant interruption. "Take care what you
say, Ebenezer James! Flame! He? I'll have you put up for defamation of
character."

"Don't be a goose, Afy. It's of no use riding the high horse with me.
You know where I saw you--and saw him. People here said you were with
Dick Hare; I could have told them better; but I did not. It was no
affair of mine, that I should proclaim it, neither is it now. Levison
_alias_ Thorn is taken up for your father's murder, and you are wanted
to give evidence. There! that's your subpoena; Ball thought you would
not come without one."

"I will never give evidence against Levison," she uttered, tearing the
subpoena to pieces, and scattering them in the street. "I swear I won't.
There, for you! Will I help to hang an innocent man, when it was Dick
Hare who was the guilty one? No! I'll walk myself off a hundred miles
away first, and stop in hiding till it's over. I shan't forget this turn
that you have chosen to play me, Ebenezer James."

"I chosen! Why, do you suppose I have anything to do with it? Don't take
up that notion, Afy. Mr. Ball put that subpoena in my hand, and told me
to serve it. He might have given it to the other clerk, just as he
gave it to me; it was all chance. If I could do you a good turn I'd do
it--not a bad one."

Afy strode on at railroad speed, waving him off. "Mind you don't fail,
Afy," he said, as he prepared to return.

"Fail," answered she, with