"What did he say to you?" he asked.

"Why, he must have thought I was Dorothy. I saw him first just as I
turned out of the Douglass' place, and he followed me all the way. At
the lane--where it was really lonely--he called to me and I stopped. He
said 'Where are you going?' I told him to the Bugle office. I didn't
think anything of it. I am never afraid. Then he got nearer to me--"

"Why didn't you run?" asked Dorothy.

"Why, I never thought of such a thing. I thought maybe he was coming
here with some news. Even when he started up the dark stairs after me I
wasn't afraid. But when he grabbed me--"

"Oh!" screamed Dorothy.

"Yes, and he said: 'See here, Miss Dale, if you put one line in print
about that old woman being dead--I'll blow the place up.'"

"He must be a crank," said Ralph. "Such people always drift into
newspaper offices."

"Oh, no, I am sure he meant it, for he grabbed my notes. He saw me
reading them in the lane," Tavia paused an instant. "And really, poor
Mrs. Douglass was a good woman. The servant girl told me how she had
worked for that Miles Burlock,--she had some special interest in him,--
and you know how he drinks."

Unfortunately every one in Dalton knew only too well how Miles Burlock