t the same things?"

"Yes."

The Captain gasped. "Then you knew!" he said.

"That he set the billiard room afire? Yes. I've always rather
suspicioned that he did, and last night, of course, made me sure of it."

"Well, well! You haven't said nothin' 'bout it to anybody?"

"Of course not."

"No, 'course you haven't. You must excuse me--I'm kind of upset, I
guess. Dear! dear! Did you think _I_ knew it?"

"I sort of guessed that you did."

"Well, I did. I've known it ever sence that night he was found. He had
his coat on when I found him, and 'twas all burnt, and there was an
empty kerosene bottle in his pocket. I hid the coat, and threw the
bottle away, and turned him so he was facin' towards the saloon 'stead
of from it. And I lied when I told the doctor that he was jest as he
fell. There! the murder's out! Now, what do you think of me?"

"Think? I think you did exactly right."

"You DO?"

"I sartinly do."

"Well, I snum! I've been over that thing time and time again, and I've
felt like I was sort of a firebug myself sometimes. I've heard folks
layin' it to fust one and then the other, and cal'latin' that Web did it
himself to git the insurance, and all the time I've known who really
did do it, and haven't said anything. I jest couldn't. You see, John and
me's been brothers almost. But I didn't s'pose anybody else would see it
the same way."

"Cap'n Eri, do you s'pose I blame you for tryin' to keep your best
friend out of trouble that he got into by bein'--well--out of his head.
Why, land of mercy! He ain't no more to be held responsible than a baby.
You did what I'd have done if I'd been in your place, and I respect you
for it."

The Captain's voice shook as he answered:

"Marthy Snow," he said, "you're the kind of woman that I'd like to have
had for a sister."

It was perhaps a half-hour later when Captain Eri started for the
schoolhouse to bring Elsie home. John Baxter had not wakened, and Mrs.
Snow said she was not afraid to remain alone with him. The thaw had
turned to a light rain and the Captain carried an umbrella. It was dark
by this time, and when he came in sight of the schoolhouse he saw a
light in the window.

One of the scholars--a by no means brilliant one--whose principal
educational achievement was the frequency with which he succeeded in
being "kept after school," was seated on the fence, doing his best to
whittle it to pieces with a new jackknife.

"Hello, sonny!" said the Capt