"But Mrs. Webb?"

"Come in and see."

There was a board fence about the simple yard within which stood
the humble house forever after to be pointed out as the scene of
Sutherlandtown's most heartrending tragedy. In this fence was a
gate, and through this gate now passed Mr. Sutherland, followed by
his would-be companion, Miss Page. A path bordered by lilac bushes
led up to the house, the door of which stood wide open. As soon as
Mr. Sutherland entered upon this path a man approached him from
the doorway. It was Amos Fenton, the constable.

"Ah, Mr. Sutherland," said he, "sad business, a very sad business!
But what little girl have you there?"

"This is Miss Page, my housekeeper's niece. She would come.
Inquisitiveness the cause. I do not approve of it."

"Miss Page must remain on the doorstep. We allow no one inside
excepting yourself," he said respectfully, in recognition of the
fact that nothing of importance was ever undertaken in Sutherland
town without the presence of Mr. Sutherland.

Miss Page curtsied, looking so bewitching in the fresh morning
light that the tough old constable scratched his chin in grudging
admiration. But he did not reconsider his determination. Seeing
this, she accepted her defeat gracefully, and moved aside to where
the bushes offered her more or less protection from the curiosity