had had a clear conscience; and although nobody seriously believed
Dietrich capable of a disgraceful act, yet after awhile it seemed to grow
more likely, especially when it became known that he had lost a great deal
of money in betting and gambling, and was unable to pay back what he had
lost. And many shook their heads and said, "How easy it is for a man to be
drawn into evil ways if he once begins to go down hill!"

Where Dietrich had gone, was now the important question. No trace of him
had been discovered from the moment of his disappearance. The
cattle-dealer left no stone unturned to find him, but he could get no clue
to his whereabouts. He had entered complaints against Dietrich, and hoped
that the hands of the law would succeed in getting track of him. But it
was all in vain. Gradually, no one knew how, a report got about that
Dietrich had fled to Australia, and would never come back. Little by
little every one came to believe it.

Except one. One single person in all Tannenegg was bold enough to swim
against this stream of suspicion. This was Judith. Not timidly and in
secret, but aloud, at all times and in all places, she declared decidedly,

"There's not one word of truth in what you all say. It's a lie from
beginning to end. Dietrich has no more stolen than I have, and I needn't
say more than that. I'll ferret this thing out, till I find the true
culprit, or my name's not Judith."

The first thing to do was to get a clear account of the whole affair; for
although she had already heard it told a dozen times, it had always been
among other people, who were continually interrupting and asking
questions, and were too anxious to hear the end, to wait for the full
account of the beginning. So she decided to apply to Blasi, who, as he had