p. Then he slowly
raised his other hand and held it before his eyes.

Mary Drennan moaned.

"We'd better clear out of this!" said Murnihan. He spoke in a low tone,
and his voice trembled.

"Clear out of this, all of you!" he said, "And get home as quick as you
can. Go across the fields, not by the roads!"

The men stole out of the house. Only Denis and Murnihan were left, and
Mary Drennan, and the dead woman. Murnihan took Denis by the arm and
dragged him towards the door. Denis shook him off. He turned to where
Mary kneeled on the ground. He tore the mask from his face and flung it
down.

"Oh, Mary, Mary!" he said. "I never meant it!"

The girl looked up. For an instant her eyes met his. Then she bent
forward again across her mother's body. Murnihan grasped Denis again.

"You damned fool!" he said. "Do you want to hang for it? Do you want us
all to hang for this night's work?"

He dragged him from the house. With his arm round the waist of the
shuddering man he pulled him along and field to field until they reached
a by-road which led into the town.

Three days later Inspector Chalmers, of the Royal Irish Constabulary,
and Major Whiteley, the magistrate, sat together in the office of the
police barrack stations.

"I've got the men who did it," said Chalmers. "I've got the whole eight
of them, and I can lay my hands on all the rest of their cursed club any
minute I like."

"Have you any evidence?" asked Whiteley. "Any evidence on which to
convict?"

"I've no evidence worth speaking of," said Chalmers, "unless the girl
can identify them. But I know I've got the right men."

"The girl won't know them," said Whiteley. "They're sure to have worn
masks. And even if she did recognise one of them she'd be afraid to
speak. In the state this country's in everyone is afraid to speak."

"The girl won't be afraid," said Chalmers. "I know her father, and I
knew her mother that's dead, and I know the girl. There never was a
Drennan yet that was afraid to speak, I've sent the sergeant to fetch
her. She ought to be here in a few minutes, and then you'll see if she's
afraid."

Ten minutes later Mary Drennan was shown into the room by the
police-sergeant. The two men who were waiting for her received her
kindly.

"Sit down, Miss Drennan!" said Major Whiteley. "I'm very sorry to
trouble you, and I'm very sorry to have to ask you to speak about a
matter which must be painful to you. But I want you to tell me, as well