ee keenly.

Pee-wee seated himself, feeling very uncomfortable.

"Walter," said his aunt, "something very serious has happened and I'm
going to ask one or two questions. You will tell me the truth, won't
you?"

"I'll answer fer him doin' that," said Uncle Eb.

"Sure I will," said Pee-wee proudly.

"Walter, do you know what Pepsy's secret was? You remember she said she
had a secret that would make lots and lots of people come and buy things
from you?"

"Girls are--" Pee-wee began. He was going to say they were crazy, but
remembering the one that lay upstairs he caught himself up and said,
"they're kind of--they think they have big ideas when they haven't. I
should worry about their secrets."

"But some of Pepsy's ideas and plans have been very big, Walter," his
aunt said ruefully. "You see we know her better than you do. She's very,
very queer; I'm afraid no one understands her."

"I understand her," said Pee-wee. "She believes in bad luck days."

Aunt Jamsiah paused a moment, considering; then she went straight to the
point. "Pepsy wants to do right, dear, but she will do wrong in order
to do right--sometimes. We have always been a little fearful of her for
that reason. She--she can't argue in her own mind and consider things
as--as you do."

"I know lots of dandy arguments," Pee-wee announced.

"You know, Walter, her father was a--he was a--not a very good man. And
Pepsy is--queer. Last night she made a dreadful mess in the cellar. She
was at the kerosene; oh, it makes me just sick to think of it. She had
some rags soaked with kerosene. Some of them were found out by the well.
The others--" Aunt Jamsiah lifted her handkerchief to her eyes and wept
for a moment, silently.

"What others?" Pee-wee asked.

"The ones that were used to set fire to the bridge, dear. Oh, it's
terrible to think of it. Poor, poor Pepsy. That is what is bringing lots
and lots of people along our road to-day, Walter. Pepsy was found lying
unconscious near the bridge. She had kerosene all over her. One charred
rag was found over there. It just makes me--it makes me--"

Pee-wee arose and laid one hand on the back of the hair-cloth chair. He,
too, was concerned now.

"You--you didn't tell her--you didn't blame--accuse her--did you?" he
asked.

"No, I didn't," his aunt breathed worriedly.

"I asked her to tell me all about last night and she would tell me
nothing. She said that the planks on the bridge tormented her. To almost
e