CHAPTER VIII.

CARL FALLS UNDER SUSPICION.


To a person of any age such a sight as that described at the close of
the last chapter might well have proved startling. To a boy like Carl
it was simply overwhelming. It so happened that he had but twice seen a
dead person, and never a victim of violence. The peculiar circumstances
increased the effect upon his mind.

He placed his hand upon the man's face, and found that he was still
warm. He could have been dead but a short time.

"What shall I do?" thought Carl, perplexed. "This is terrible!"

Then it flashed upon him that as he was alone with the dead man
suspicion might fall upon him as being concerned in what might be called
a murder.

"I had better leave here at once," he reflected. "I shall have to go
away without paying for my meal."

He started to leave the house, but had scarcely reached the door when
two persons--a man and a woman--entered. Both looked at Carl with
suspicion.

"What are you doing here?" asked the man.