The boy gazed at them with intense relish. He realized the joy of a
coup. He had never been very important in his own estimation nor that
of others. Now he knew what it was to be important. "Yes," he said,
gayly; "they say she give her rat poison. They've sent for the
sheriff from Alford."

"She never did it in the world. Why, I went to school with her,"
gasped Mrs. Ayres.

Sylvia had the same conviction, but she backed it with logic. "What
should she do it for?" she demanded. "Miss Farrel was a steady
boarder, and Lucinda ain't had many steady boarders lately, and she
needed the money. Folks don't commit murder without reason. What
reason was there?"

"School ain't going to keep to-day," remarked the boy, with glee.

"Of course it ain't," said Sylvia, angrily. "What reason do they
give?"

"I 'ain't heard of none," said the boy. "S'pose that will come out at
the trial. Hannah Simmons is going to be arrested, too. They think
she knowed something about it."

"Hannah Simmons wouldn't hurt a fly," said Sylvia. "What makes them
think she knew anything about it?"

"Johnny Soule, that works at the hotel stable, says she did," said
the boy. "They think he knows a good deal."