didn't youT
"Yes for several minutes."
Mrs. Cowan's needlework had fallen in
her lap. She was seated near the window,
and had been busily sewing. Now she
was looking up, eager and intent '.
"You've known him a long time,
haven't you?"
"Yes ever since he joined. He's one
of the best sergeants I ever knew."
"You would hardly think him guilty
of any dishonesty, would you?"
Mrs. Cowan was rising from her chair;
the needlework had fallen to the floor.
"Dishonesty! Not by a good desir
was the reply that bade fair to be even
more impulsive, and was checked only
in deference to the presence of a woman,
"Well, neither would I, from what
I've seen of him: and yet Mr. Maitland's
seal ring was found on turn last night"
"My God! Of course he could explain
it in some way?"
"He couldn't or wouldn't He sim
ply stood there, white as a sheep except
where those bruises made him green and
blue. He had denied the charge flatly
when accused; and yet there it was ia
his chest I never saw any man so taken
aback as Capt Stryker; he said he would
have sworn to his innocence."
"So would I! so I do, by Jupiter! If
some foal plot! it's"
But he got no further. To his own
amaze, to the utter bewilderment of Dr.
Quin, Mrs. Cowan precipitated herself
upon her patient, seized the hand that
lay nearest her on the coverlet, mad
burst forth into half articulate, sobbing.
indignant words, mingled with 1 'ssf
showered passionately on that ssfonlsh-
edhand.
