f his accomplices.

"O, we left the dead to bury their dead, Mr. Glutter. Miss DeWolf is
confident there is a gang of the ruffians. I intend to make it my
business to look after them a little."

"So do I," said Hank, and as soon as Mr. Sherman was gone, he
proceeded to put his dangerous threat into execution, by calling upon
Mrs. Hawley.

"Good morning, Mrs. Hawley," said he in his blandest tone, as she
slowly approached the open door, in answer to his gentle tap. "Is
Prime at home?"

He was about to enter, but Mrs. Hawley quietly motioned him back, and
herself stepped outside, "Mr. Hawley is very ill," said she, "and
unable to see company."

"May I not be allowed to see him a moment?"

"No, sir."

"Just for a moment," he persisted, "I am really anxious to see Prime."

"No, sir; his life might be the forfeit."

"Now, really, Mrs. Hawley--"

"Mr. Glutter," said she, interrupting him, "have you forgotten your
conduct to me the last time we met?" and a burning spot came to her
cheeks, and scathing words dropped from her lips. "You know too well,
sir, that my home is desolate, my heart is broken, and my husband is
murdered, all through the influence of your cursed business. I thought
I would treat you politely, Mr. Glutter, but I cannot. God forgive me.
Leave me; the very sight of you makes me desperate. Leave me, I say,
if you would not again have the curse of a drunkard's wife fall upon
your blackened soul."

"What a perfect she-devil you are," said Hank, now throwing off all
restraint. "I mean to see Prime, spite of you."

"Try it, if you dare," said she, and her eyes flashed and sparkled
with a desperate purpose, as she planted herself in the door.

Just then, Dr. Goodrich and daddy, on their return trip, were seen
approaching.

"You'll repent this," said her persecutor with an oath, and
immediately withdrew.

He went directly to the cove where Little Wolf's boat was usually
moored. It was not there, and he took courage.

"Bloody Jim could not be hurt much," he soliloquized in an undertone,
"or he couldn't have taken the boat away. I shall manage that girl
yet, and that Sherman, too, if he don't take care of himself. They'll
be lovers, I see that plainly enough. So much the better; moonlight
walks will follow, as a matter of course. Now we'll see who will beat
in this game."

CHAPTER VII.

MUSIC--THE WARNING--PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER INTERRUPTED--THE
WELCOME BOAT.

Three months