a child."

"Well, he's pretty nigh his second childhood now, judgin' by the way
he acts sometimes. It was Isaiah of course! Who else would be walkin'
around downstairs this time of night?"

"That's what I thought, so I went and looked. Shadrach, it was
Mary-'Gusta. Hush! Let me tell you! She had her things on, hat and all,
and she took the lantern and lit it and went out."

"Went OUT!"

"Yes, and--and up the road. Now, where--?"

Shadrach's answer was to stride to the window, pull aside the shade and
look out. Along the lane in the direction of the village a fiery spark
was bobbing.

"There she goes now," he muttered. "She's pretty nigh to the corner
already. What in the world can she be up to? Where is she bound--at
twelve o'clock?"

Zoeth did not answer. His partner turned and looked at him.

"Humph!" he exclaimed. "Why don't you tell me the whole of it while
you're about it? You're keepin' somethin' back. Out with it! Do YOU know
where she's bound?"

Zoeth looked troubled--and guilty. "Why, no, Shadrach," he faltered, "I
don't know, but--but I kind of suspect. You see, she--she did the same