have
searched the barn."

"He's a fool. I heard his talk through the cracks, and there's nothing
in that case but a suit of clothes, and I've got to have it. It's all
I've got in the world."

"Then you won't miss it much! I'm giving you a chance to get away. If
you don't take it and clear out in ten seconds, I'll call Whittlesey.
He's still talking to Fred just a little way down the lane."

As she turned to reassure herself of the fact, he made a dive for the
suit-case, brought it out and rushed toward the rear door. His foot
caught on the edge of a rough plank and he fell headlong, the case
flying from his hand. Phil pounced upon it, flung it with all her
strength into the farthest corner of the barn, pulled him to his feet,
and pushed him through the door. She drew it shut, jerked the bar into
place, and ran through the front door into the barn-lot. She continued
running until she had gained the mound on which the house stood. She
reasoned that the fugitive would hardly venture to reenter the barn, as
this would bring him into the open lot with a possibility of
encountering new foes. She saw him presently stealing along the edge of
the field toward the creek, dodging along the stake-and-rider fence and
pausing frequently to rest or make sure that he was not followed. She
saw Whittlesey bid Fred good-bye, watched the young farmer return to his
corn-planting, and heard his voice as he called cheerily to the horses.

Charles gained the edge of the ravine, clambered over the fence, and
disappeared. Then Phil sighed deeply and shuddered; the fear in the
man's eyes had not been good to see; and yet she had been touched with
pity for him. The night he had taunted her about her mother she had
taken the measure of his baseness; but she was glad she had helped him
to escape. If there was really anything of value in the suit-case, as
Whittlesey had said, the law might have it and welcome; and she was
already wondering just how to dispose of it. If Charles followed her
instructions, he would strike across country and catch the northbound
evening train. His fate was out of her hands, and it was wholly unlikely
that he would make any further effort to regain his property now that
Phil had seen it. She doubted whether he had had any real errand with
Fred. It was much more probable that chance alone had directed his steps
to this neighborhood, and that all he wanted was to beg his brother's
protection and aid. Now that the excit