l'
Swallertail, an' I'm down on him myself, fer that matter; but I'll dare
anybody to say anything ag'in him when I'm aroun'. An' yet, Josie--an'
yet--I ain't sure but he's--but he's a _murderer!"_

She had dropped her voice until she scarcely breathed the last words
and her little body trembled through and through with tense
nervousness. Josie took her hand.

"Never mind, dear," she said gently. "Perhaps he didn't kill Ned
Joselyn, after all."

Ingua sprang up with a hoarse scream and glared at Josie in absolute
terror.

"How'd ye know? How'd ye know it were Ned Joselyn?" she demanded,
trembling more and more.

Josie's reply was a smile. Josie's smile was essentially winning and
sweet. It was reassuring, trustful, friendly.

"This isn't a very big place, Ingua," she quietly remarked. "I can
count the people of Cragg's Crossing on my fingers and toes, and the
only one who has ever disappeared is Ned Joselyn. Why, you've told me
so yourself. Your grandfather and Joselyn were friends. Then they
quarreled. Afterward Joselyn disappeared."

"Who said they quarreled?"

"Miss Huckins told me. It was in the office, next door to where she
lives and works."

"Oh," with a sigh of relief. "But Ned Joselyn run away. Ev'rybody knows
that."

"Everybody but you, dear. Sit down. Why do you get so nervous? Really,
Ingua, after you've told me the whole story you'll feel better. It's
too big a secret for one small body to hold, isn't it? And just between
ourselves we will talk it all over--many times--and then it won't seem
so dreadful to you. And, after all, you're not positive your
grandfather killed Ned Joselyn. Perhaps he didn't. But you're afraid he
did, and that keeps you unstrung and unhappy. Who knows but I may be
able to help you discover the truth? Sit down, Ingua, and let's talk it
all over."

CHAPTER X
INGUA IS CONFIDENTIAL

Ingua slowly resumed her seat on the bank beside her friend. It was
hard to resist Josie's appeals.

"The whole thing looks pretty black ag'in Gran'dad," she said. "I
s'pose ye can't understand what I mean till I tell ye the whole story,
from the beginning 'cause ye didn't live here at the time. If ye lived
here," she added, "I wouldn't tell ye anything, but by-'n'-by yer goin'
away. An' ye've promised to keep yer mouth shut."

"Unless you give me permission to speak."

"I ain't likely to do that. I'm tellin' ye this, Josie, so's we kin
talk it over, at times. It has got hold o' m