claws, and I thought it might belonk
to you, my teeth chattered, and I felt like the back of my frock was a
ice-warehouse. Now, honey, can you testify before God and man, that
hank'cher ain't yourn?"
"I certainly can. I had only three handkerchiefs with me when I left
home, and I have them still. Here is one, the other two lie yonder. But
that handkerchief is worth everything; because it must belong to the
vile wretch who committed the crime, and it will help to prove my
innocence. Where is it?"
"The Grand Jury is setting on it."
Here Dyce looked cautiously around, and tip-toed to the door; finding
it ajar, closed it, then stole back. Putting her lips close to Beryl's
ear, she whispered:
"Did you lose a sleeve button?"
"No. I did not wear any."
"Thank God! I feel like all the bricks in the court-house was lifted
off my heart, and flung away. I was in fear and trimbling about that
button, 'cause I picked it up, just under the aidge of the rug, where
ole Marster fell, when he got his death blow; and as sure as the coming
of the Judgment Day, it was drapped by the pusson who killed him. I was
so afeared it might belonk to you, that I have been on the anxious seat
ever since I found it; and I concluded the safest way was to bring it
here to you. I am scared to keep it at home, 'cause them yelping wolves
as wears the sheepskins of Justice, are on my tracks. I would never
give it up, if I was chopped to mince meat; but Bedney ain't got no
more than enuff backbone for half of a man, and the lie-yers
discomfrizzle him so, I could not trust him, when it comes to the
scratch. Now that button is worth a heap, and I am precious careful of
it. Look here."
She took from her pocket two large pods of red pepper, which looked
exactly alike, but the end of one had been cut out around the stem,
then neatly fitted back, and held in place by some colorless cement.
Beckoning Beryl to follow, Dyce went closer to the window, and with the
aid of her teeth drew out the stem. Into her palm rolled a circular
button of some opaque reddish-brown substance, resembling tortoise
shell, and enamelled with gilt bunches of grapes, and inlaid leaves of
mother-of-pearl. Across the top, embossed in gilt letters ran the word
"Ricordo."
The old woman lifted her open palm, and as Beryl saw the button, a
gasping, gurgling sound broke from her. She snatched it, stared at it.
Then the Gorgon head slipped through her fingers, she threw herself
a
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