he edge of the bluff
torn away. There, for a space of about two feet only, back from the
brink, the sparse grass was trampled, and the earth showed marks of
heels and in places the sod was freshly torn up.

"There's been something happened here, you see," said Charlie Dean.

"Here is where a foot has been braced to keep from being pushed over;
see, Mary? And here again."

"I see indeed." Mary looked, and stooping, picked something from the
ground that glinted through the loosened earth. She held it on her
open palm toward Bertrand, and the two boys looked intently at it. Her
husband did not touch it, but glanced quickly into her eyes and then
at the boys. Then her fingers closed over it, and taking her
handkerchief she tied it in one corner securely.

"Did you ever see anything like it, boys?" she asked.

"No, ma'am. It's a watch charm, isn't it? Or what?"

"I suppose it must be."

"I guess the fellah that was being pushed over must 'a' grabbed for
the other fellah's watch. Maybe he was trying to rob him."

"Let's see whether we can find anything else," said John Walters,
peering over the bluff.

"Don't, John, don't. You may fall over. It might have been a fall, and
one of them might have been trying to save the other, you know. He
might have caught at him and pulled this off. There's no reason why we
should surmise the worst."

"They might ha' been playing--you know--wrestling--and it might 'a'
happened so," said Charlie.

"Naw! They'd been big fools to wrestle so near the edge of the bluff
as this," said the practical John. "I see something white way down
there, Mrs. Ballard. I can get it, I guess."

"But take care, John. Go further round by the path."

Both boys ran along the bluff until they came to a path that led down
to the river. "Do be careful, boys!" called Mary.

"Now, let me see that again, my dear," and Mary untied the handkerchief.
"Yes, it is what I thought. That belonged to Larry Kildene. He got it
in India, although he said it was Chinese. He was a year in the
British service in India. I've often examined it. I should have known
it anywhere. He must have left it with Hester for the boy."

"Poor Larry! And it has come to this. I remember it on Richard's chain
when he came out there to meet us in the grove. Bertrand, what shall
we do? They must have been here--and have quarreled--and what has
happened! I'm going back to ask Betty."

"Ask Betty! My dear! What can Betty know about it?"