r less heat
than had marked his previous speech.

"They got the idea back home that you can help in the McBride matter,"
explained the sheriff again. "I see that you know he's been murdered."

"Yes, I knew that before I left Mount Hope," rejoined North.

"Did you, though?" said the sheriff briefly, and this admission of
North's appeared to furnish him with food for reflection.

"Well, what do I know that will be of use to you?" asked North
impatiently.

"You ain't to make any statement to me, John," returned the sheriff
hastily.

"Do you mean you expect me to go back to Mount Hope?" inquired North in
a tone of mingled wonder and exasperation.

The sheriff nodded.

"That's the idea, John," he said placidly.

"What if I refuse to go back?"

The sheriff looked pained.

"Oh, you won't do that--what's the use?"

"Do you mean--" began North savagely, but Conklin interposed.

"Never mind what I mean, that's a good fellow; say you'll take the next
train back with me; it will save a lot of, bother!"

"But I strongly object to return to Mount Hope!" said North.

"Be reasonable--" urged the sheriff.

"This is an infernal outrage!" cried North.

"I'm sorry, John, but make it easy for me, make it easy for yourself;
we'll have a nice friendly trip and you will be back here by the first
of the week."

For a moment North hesitated. He had so many excellent reasons why he
did not wish to return to Mount Hope, but he knew that there was
something back of Mr. Conklin's mild eye and yet milder speech.

"Well, John?" prompted the sheriff encouragingly.

"I suppose I'll go with you," said North grudgingly.

"Of course you will," agreed the sheriff.

He had never entertained any doubts on this point.

It was ten o'clock Saturday morning when North and the sheriff left the
east-bound express at Mount Hope and climbed into the bus that was
waiting for them.

North's annoyance had given place to a certain humorous appreciation of
the situation. His plans had gone far astray in the past forty-eight
hours, and here he was back in Mount Hope. Decidedly his return, in the
light of his parting with Elizabeth, was somewhat in the nature of an
anticlimax.

They were driven at once to the court-house. There in his office they
found Moxlow with the coroner and North was instantly aware of restraint
in the manner of each as they greeted him, for which he could not
account.

"Sit down, North," said Moxlow, indicating a ch