her heart, and she trembled so
that she could scarcely stand. The watchers grew very still as Fairfax
Johnson stood for a moment before swinging himself up through the
opening. Sally gave a little gasp as he disappeared into the darkness.

"What if--if he should shoot?" she murmured unconsciously speaking
aloud.

"'Tis what I'm afraid of," answered Sheriff Will. "What is it?" he
cried, springing upon the table and mounting the chair in a vain
effort to see what was taking place in the attic. "Have you found
him?" For an unmistakable chuckle came from overhead. It sounded to
Peggy as though it were her cousin's voice. She told herself that she
was mistaken, however, when Fairfax Johnson appeared at the opening.

"It's a rug," he called, a broad smile illuminating his countenance.
"When I stumbled over it I thought it was a bear. I suppose Miss Peggy
hath put it up here anent her housekeeping time. Shall I throw it
down?"

"No," answered Sheriff Will, in disgusted tones. "If that's all there
is up there you might as well come down. We are not hunting articles
to set Miss Peggy up."

"If any of the rest of you wish to come up I think I could help draw
him up." The youth leaned over the side of the opening suggestively.

"No, no," interposed Mr. Ledie, commissioner of prisoners. "The fellow
is evidently not up there, and there is no use wasting time. He must
be somewhere else about the premises, or else we have overlooked his
tracks."

"I don't see how we could," declared the sheriff. "Anyhow, 'tis
getting too dark to do any more to-night. You seem to have found some
cobwebs, if you did not find a prisoner, my friend," he said as
Fairfax Johnson swung himself down to the table. "I suppose that we
must wish you good-night, Mr. Owen. We may drop in to-morrow."

"Nay, gentlemen, go not so," spoke Mr. Owen. "Come, refresh
yourselves, I pray you. You will take supper with us after so hard a
search. It will not be long before 'tis ready, and 'tis o'er cold to
go forth without something warming. Lass, canst thou not help Sukey to
get it quickly?"

"Yes, father," answered Peggy. She was quite herself by this time, but
filled with amazement at Fairfax. What a queer compound he was, she
thought, glancing over to where the youth stood. He was blushing as
Sally helped him to remove the cobwebs from his clothing, and seemed
unable to answer the chaff with which she and Robert were plying him.
Yet but a short time since he ha