Part 38 (1/2)

”Oh, do you think he will?” and the girl breathed a sigh of relief.

Then her face clouded, and that worried expression again came into her eyes.

”What will they do with Mr. Jasper?” she enquired.

”I can't say,” was the low reply.

”Will they keep him in prison a long time, or will they----?”

”Don't say that word!” Lois cried, clutching Betty firmly by the arm.

”I know what you were going to say, and I can't bear to hear it.”

They were walking slowly now along the narrow path, bordered by waving gra.s.s. Birds sang in the trees to their left and b.u.t.terflies flitted here and there over the broad fields. It was a scene of peace and contentment. Nature was in her most attractive mood and seemed to care nothing for the cares of struggling humanity. At any other time Lois would have rejoiced in the beauty around her and would have revelled in the glory of earth and sky. But now it was otherwise. How could she be happy when her heart was so heavy? She knew the cause, and she was not ashamed to confess it to herself. In fact, it brought a slight ray of comfort to feel that she was suffering with him.

They had almost reached the house when a boy was seen approaching. He carried a note in his hand, which he gave at once to Lois.

”It's from Mr. Forbes,” he explained, ”and he told me to hustle, and take an answer back as quick as I can.”

Lois read the note, which simply stated that she was wanted at the telephone.

”Tell Mr. Forbes that I shall be there shortly,” she told the boy, at the same time handing him a coin for his trouble in carrying the message.

Hurrying into the house in order to leave word with the maid where she was going in case any one should call, Lois started with Betty for the store. There was no more loitering now as she was anxious to learn who wanted her on the phone. It was rarely that any one called her up, and she was hoping that it might be Margaret to tell her that she was coming back that evening.

On their way they came to the grove at the top of the hill not far from the Haven. Here Betty stopped, and stood as if hesitating what to do.

”I think I shall leave you, Miss Lois,” she said.

”What, are you not going with me to the store?”

”No, I guess not. I will see you later. I want to go to my room now to think something over.”

She was trembling as she said this, and Lois wondered what was the matter with her. Then an idea flashed into her mind. Was she afraid to go past the artist's tent? she asked herself. There could surely be nothing else which would cause her to leave her and go to the loneliness of her own room. She said nothing to Betty, however, of her thoughts, but bade her good-bye and hurried on her way.

Coming at length to the spot where Bramshaw had been living, she glanced to the left as if expecting to see him. But no sign of him did she see, and great was her surprise to find that his tent was gone.

She rubbed her eyes, thinking that she had not seen aright. But, no, there was no mistake. Bramshaw had gone, and had taken all his belongings with him. This was strange, and as she walked along she began to muse as to where he had gone and the purpose of his hasty departure. Had it anything to do with the murder of old David? she wondered.

Lois was thinking of these things as she reached the store, where she met Andy Forbes.

”Do you know what has become of the artist?” she enquired.

”Isn't he up the road?” Andy asked in reply.

”His tent has been removed, and so I suppose he has gone with it.”

”Gone!” he exclaimed in surprise. ”Why, when did he go?”

”I haven't the least idea.”

”Well, I guess there must be something in it after all,” Andy mused as if to himself.