ation
to the quarrel between him and Isom Chase which preceded the tragedy. He
seems to raise a point of honor on it, or something. I heard them say
this afternoon that it was nothing but the fear that it would disclose
his motive for the crime. They say he was making off with old Chase's
money, but I don't believe that."

"They're wrong if they think that," said she, shaking her head
seriously, "he'd never do a thing like that."

"No, I don't believe he would. But they found a bag of money in the
room, old Chase had it clamped in the hook of his arm, they say."

"Well, I'm sure Joe Newbolt never had his hands on it, anyhow," said
she.

"That's right," approved the colonel, nodding in slow thoughtfulness;
"we must stand up for him, for his own sake as well as Peter's. He's
worthy."

"And he's innocent. Can't you see that, father?"

"As plain as daylight," the colonel said.

The colonel stretched out his legs toward the blaze, crossed his feet
and smoked in comfort.

"But I wonder what it can be that the boy's holding back?"

"He has a reason for it, whatever it is," she declared.

"That's as certain as taxes," said the colonel. "He's a remarkable boy,
considering the chances he's had--bound out like a nigger slave, and
beaten and starved, I'll warrant. A remark-able lad; very, very. Don't
you think so, Alice?"

"I think he is, indeed," said she.

A long silence.

A stick in the chimney burned in two, the heavy ends outside the dogs
dropped down, the red brands pointing upward. The colonel put his hand
to his beard and sat in meditation. The wind was rising. Now and then it
sounded like a groan in the chimney-top. Gray ashes formed, frost-like,
over the ardent coals. The silence between them held unbroken.

Both sat, thought-wandering, looking into the fire....

CHAPTER XIII

UNTIL THE DAY BREAK

Although Isom Chase had been in his grave a week, and Judge Little had
been cracking his coat-tails over the road between his home and the
county-seat daily, the matter of the will and the administration of the
estate remained as in the beginning.

Judge Little had filed the will for probate, and had made application
for letters of administration, which the court had denied. Under the
terms of the will, it was pointed out, he was empowered to act in that
capacity only in case of the testator's death before the majority of the
legatee. The date of the document proved that the heir was now long past