etching little mouth at Robert as she went through the
door but her eyes held a look of gratitude.

Peggy accompanied her into the hall. Clifford was waiting outside on
the steps, and none of the three spoke until, wrapped and bundled for
the trip, Sally joined him.

"I'll never forget this, Sally," murmured Peggy, giving her friend a
little squeeze. "And I'll be down to-morrow."

"Be sure to," answered Sally. "Come, friend," turning to Clifford. "We
must not linger."

Full of relief and gladness Peggy reentered the dining-room.

CHAPTER VI

APPEARANCES AGAINST HER

"Who trusts himself to woman, or to waves,
Should never hazard what he fears to lose."

--_Oldmixon._.

During the evening Peggy congratulated herself more than once that
Clifford was well away from the house; for the sheriff, in company
with her father, again went over the dwelling. Every nook that might
afford a hiding-place was examined thoroughly, and, as Fairfax had
foreseen, another man was sent up to search the kitchen chamber. At
length, all his joviality gone, Sheriff Will sat down by the
sitting-room fire in puzzled perplexity.

"I can't understand it," he said more to himself than to Mr. Owen. "We
have found no track going away. His boots make an impression that
could not be mistaken. Unless he hath taken wings unto himself he
should be somewhere in the house."

"Nay, friend; it cannot be," replied Mr. Owen, shaking his head
positively. "We have searched every place that 'twould be possible for
a man to be concealed. We have even gone into places where no one, not
a member of the family, would think of hiding."

"That's just it," exclaimed the officer. "Some member of the family
helped him. Were it not so we could not have missed the fellow."

"In that, friend, thou art mistaken. I believe that I could give an
account of the actions and whereabouts of each member, yea, I will
include our guests also, since my arrival home."

"What time was that, sir?"

"About one of the clock, I should judge."

"Well, the matter is beyond me," responded the sheriff rising. "There
is naught to do but to go home and think it over."

And to Peggy's great relief he left, taking his men with him. The
occurrence seemed to have thrown a damper over the spirits of the
party, even Betty being unusually silent, so the household soon
separated for the night.

It was not until the afternoon of the next day that Peggy foun