``He hain't seed her yit,'' said one.
``He's goin' to kill her shore. I tol'
her he would. She said she reckoned
he would, but she didn't keer.''

For a moment I was paralyzed by
the tragedy at hand. She was in the
door looking at him when he raised
his head. For one moment he stood
still, staring, and then he started
towards her with a quickened step. I
started too, then, every step a torture,
and as I limped ahead she made a
gesture of terror and backed into the
room before him. The door closed,
and I listened for a pistol-shot and a
scream. It must have been done with
a knife, I thought, and quietly, for
when I was within ten paces of the
cabin he opened the door again. His
face was very white; he held one hand
behind him, and he was nervously
fumbling at his chill with the other.
As he stepped towards me I caught the
handle of a pistol in my side pocket
and waited. He looked at me sharply.

``Did you say the preacher lived up
thar?'' he asked.