hat, he turned and walked rapidly away, leaving the men staring
after him with suspicious, wondering eyes.

CHAPTER XXVI

UNDER SUSPICION

Never in the entire history of Creekdale had there been such intense
excitement as when word was received of the murder of old David. At
first people could not believe it was true, and thought there had been
some mistake. But when the men who had found David related the story
then all doubt was set aside. The store was crowded that afternoon
with excited men who had gathered to hear the smallest detail, and to
discuss with one another the whole affair. It was Sandy Miller who
described how he had made the discovery, and then shouted for his
companions.

"Was the letter lying near?" Andy Forbes asked.

"I didn't notice it at first," was the reply, "as I was so overcome by
the sight before me. It must have been lying there all the time, for
Jim Goban saw it at once."

"Where is that letter now?"

"Jim has it, I guess. It wasn't a letter, but merely an envelope with
'Jasper Randall' written plain on the outside. You should have seen
that fellow's face when Jim showed it to him."

"But do you think that proves anything?" Andy enquired.

"Wouldn't like to say. But you know as well as I do how suspicious the
thing looks, and how much the lawyers will make out of it."

"Is the body at the Haven now?" one of the men asked.

"We took it there," Andy replied. Then he paused and looked around
upon his audience. "I hope I shall never have to take part in such a
business again," he continued. "I can't get the face of that girl
Betty out of my mind, and her wild cry is still ringing in my ears. I
thought she would go crazy for sure when she heard what had happened."

"She was very fond of the old man, so I understand," Ned Purvis
remarked.

"She certainly was. They were just like father and daughter. But I
must say that Miss Sinclair was a regular brick. She took charge of
everything at once and seemed to know the right thing to do. But, my,
her face was pale, and you should have seen her eyes--when she turned
them upon Jim Goban."

"What did she do that for?" Ned questioned.

"Because Jim showed her the envelope and hinted that Randall was the
guilty one."

"Did she say anything?"

"Never a word. But her eyes said enough, and I saw Jim flinch as if he
had been struck in the face."

"The women folks say that her and him are pretty thick," Steve Clemwe