t book had
affected him. But he reflected that Silas was rather unimaginative, and
would probably be more mystified than enlightened by his explanation.

"I do believe it was reading that book which made you act so queerly
when I brought you in the news of the murder," pursued Mrs. Kilgore.

"How is that? How did he act queerly?" asked Silas.

"I am not aware that I acted queerly at all," said Joseph doggedly.

He knew well enough he had acted queerly, and did not mean to deny
that; but, as children and confused persons often do, he answered to the
underlying motive rather than the language. He only thought of denying
the inference of suspicion that her words seemed to him to suggest. But
to Mrs. Kilgore he very naturally seemed to be prevaricating.

"Why, Joseph!" said she, in a raised voice, and with a slight asperity;
"you know how you jumped up, looking like a ghost, the moment I opened
the door, and the first thing you said after I 'd told you that they
'd found a murdered man in the barn, was--Why, Joseph, what's the
matter?"

But I must go back a little. When the conversation turned on the book
and Joseph's connection with it, a minute or so previous, Silas had
quite naturally glanced over at his brother, and, as the talk went on,
his glance had become a somewhat concentrated gaze, although expressive
of nothing but the curiosity and slight wonder which the circumstances
suggested. It would not do to have Silas think that he avoided his eyes,
and so Joseph had, as soon as he felt this gaze, turned his own face
rather sharply toward it. He had meant merely to meet his brother's look
in a natural and unaffected manner. But, although never more sensible of
just what such a manner would be, he was utterly unable to compass it.
He was perfectly aware that the expression of his eyes was much too
serious and challenging,--and yet he could not, for the soul of him,
modify it. Nor did he dare to withdraw his gaze after it had once met
his brother's, although knowing that it was fast becoming a fierce
stare, and perceiving that Silas had already noticed something peculiar
in it. For to drop his eyes would be utter discomfiture and rout. As
Mrs. Kilgore alluded to his queer demeanor when she told him the news,
his face began to flush with the anticipation of the revelation that was
coming at this most unfavorable moment, even while his eyes were locked
with the already startled ones of Silas. As she went on, the flush