hiding from
retribution."

She sprang up, trembling.

"But you said you had seen his face?"

"Yes, and I have come to take you where you can identify that face?"

"Then, he is dead." She covered her face with her hands.

"No, I wish to God he was dead! Sit down. I will not see you suffer
such agony. He is safe for the present. If you will try to think of
yourself for a moment, and pay me the compliment of listening, I will
explain. Do you recollect that during the storm on the night of the
murder the lightning was remarkably vivid and severe?"

"Yes; can I ever forget any details of that night? Go on."

"Do you recall the position of the glass door on the west veranda; and
also that the crimson drapery or curtain was drawn aside?"

"I recall it distinctly because, while Gen'l Darrington was reading my
mother's letter, I looked out through the glass at the chrysanthemums
blooming in the garden."

"That door was almost opposite the chimney, and the safe or vault in
the wall was very near the fireplace. It appears that when the
chloroform failed to stupefy Gen'l Darrington, he got up and seized one
of the andirons on the hearth, and attacked the thief who was stealing
his money. While they were struggling in front of the vault, a burst of
electricity, some peculiarly vivid flash of lightning, sent by fate, by
your guardian angel, it may have been by God himself--photographed both
men, and the interior of the room on the wide glass panel of that door.
Forms, faces, features, even the pattern of the cloth coat, are printed
plainly there, for the whole world to study. The murderer and the
victim in mortal combat over the tin box. Accident--shall I say
Providence--unexpectedly brought this witness to light. The curtain so
long looped back, was recently lowered, and when, two days ago, the
outside blinds were opened, there lay your complete vindication. Crowds
have seen it; the newspaper issued an 'extra', and so general was the
rejoicing, that a public demonstration would have been made here at the
gaol, had not Churchill and I harangued the people and assured them it
would only annoy and embarrass you. So you are free. Free to shake the
dust of X---forever from your feet; and it must comfort your proud soul
to know that you do not owe your liberty to the mercy of a community
which wronged you. I forbade Singleton to tell you, to allow any
premature hint to reach you; for I claimed the privilege of bringing
the glad