rom the landing above. "Not of anybody," repeated Marcus.

Maria came out into the hall.

"Is he gone? Is he sure gone?"

"What was the trouble?" inquired Marcus, suddenly.

"I woke up about an hour ago," Maria explained, "and Zerkow wasn't in
bed; maybe he hadn't come to bed at all. He was down on his knees by the
sink, and he'd pried up some boards off the floor and was digging there.
He had his dark-lantern. He was digging with that knife, I guess, and
all the time he kept mumbling to himself, 'More'n a hundred pieces, an'
every one of 'em gold; more'n a hundred pieces, an' every one of 'em
gold.' Then, all of a sudden, he caught sight of me. I was sitting up in
bed, and he jumped up and came at me with his knife, an' he says, 'Where
is it? Where is it? I know you got it hid somewhere. Where is it? Tell
me or I'll knife you.' I kind of fooled him and kept him off till I got
my wrapper on, an' then I run out. I didn't dare stay."

"Well, what did you tell him about your gold dishes for in the first
place?" cried Marcus.

"I never told him," protested Maria, with the greatest energy. "I never
told him; I never heard of any gold dishes. I don' know where he got the
idea; he must be crazy."

By this time Trina and McTeague, Old Grannis, and little Miss Baker--all
the lodgers on the upper floors of the flat--had gathered about Maria.
Trina and the dentist, who had gone to bed, were partially dressed, and
Trina's enormous mane of black hair was hanging in two thick braids
far down her back. But, late as it was, Old Grannis and the retired
dressmaker had still been up and about when Maria had aroused them.

"Why, Maria," said Trina, "you always used to tell us about your gold
dishes. You said your folks used to have them."

"Never, never, never!" exclaimed Maria, vehemently. "You folks must all
be crazy. I never HEARD of any gold dishes."

"Well," spoke up Miss Baker, "you're a queer girl, Maria; that's all
I can say." She left the group and returned to her room. Old Grannis
watched her go from the corner of his eye, and in a few moments followed
her, leaving the group as unnoticed as he had joined it. By degrees the
flat quieted down again. Trina and McTeague returned to their rooms.

"I guess I'll go back now," said Maria. "He's all right now. I ain't
afraid of him so long as he ain't got his knife."

"Well, say," Marcus called to her as she went down stairs, "if he gets
funny again, you just yell out; I'LL h