w firmness--too much firmness, as Thompson mentally decided when he
caught its profile.

The Sheriff advanced with an amiable smile. He was so surprised.

"Why, you here, Mary! When did you come?" His tone was affable and even
testified pleasure. But Mary did not unbend. She was as stiff as the
chair she sat in. Without turning her head she turned her eyes and
looked at him sideways.

"_Mrs. Creel_."

There was a glint in her black eyes that meant war, and Thompson's
countenance fell.

"Ah-ur-Mrs. Creel."

"I did n't know as you 'd know me!" She spoke quietly, her eyes still on
him sidewise.

"Not know you! Why, of course, I know you. I don't forget the pretty
girls--leastways, the prettiest girl in the county. Your father and
I------"

"I heard you made a mistake about my husband and Jim Turkle. I thought
maybe you might think I was _Mrs_. Turkle."

There was the least perceptible lifting of her shoulders and drawing
down of her mouth, but quite enough to suggest Jenny Turkle 's high
shoulders and grim face.

The Sheriff tried to lighten the conversation.

"Oh! Come now, Mary, you must n't get mad about that. It was all a joke.
I was comin' right up after court adjourned to tell you about it--and--.
It was the funniest thing! You 'd 'a' died laughing if you 'd been here
and seen----"

"I heard they was all laughin' about it. _I_ ain't so easy to amuse."

"Oh! Yes, you would, too," began Thompson, cajolingly. "If you 'd
seen----"

"What time does Court adjourn!" she asked, quietly and irrelevantly,

"Oh, not for two or three--not for _several_ days yet--Probably 't will
hold over till well into next week. But if you 'd seen----"

"I mean what time does it let out _to-day?_"

Thompson's face fell again.

"Why--ah--about--ah--Why! What do you want to know for!"

"I want to see the Judge." Her voice was dead level.

"What about!"

"About business!"

"What business!"

"_Co'te_ business," with cold irony.

"You don't mean that you 're goin' to----!"

He paused without framing the rest of the question.

She suddenly stood up and flamed out.

"Yes, I am--that 's just what I am goin' to do. That 's what I 've come
here for. You may take a liberty with the Judge--he 's doty; but you
can't take a liberty with _me_--I 'm Squire Jefford's daughter, and I 'm
goin' to show you."

She was facing him now, and her black eyes were darting fire. Thompson
was quite staggered.

"Why, Mary! I am surpr