“How did you hear that?” she asked.

“Land sakes, don’t ask me sich a question as that, Miss,” was the evasive reply.  “How could I begin to tell ye where I hear things, fer the air is full of all kinds of stories to-day.  But I guess it’s true all right.”

“I didn’t know that Mr. David had made a will.  That is a surprise to me.”

“And indeed it is to everybody else, Miss.  We didn’t think that Crazy David had anything to leave.  Why he was sold as a pauper to Jim Goban in this very parish about a year ago.  But that isn’t the only thing that surprises me.”

“What, is there something more?”

“There surely is, Miss.  It’s reported that he’s left a hull lot to that Randall feller.  I guess he knew how to work his cards all right with the old man.  He didn’t take an interest in him fer nuthin’, oh, no.  People don’t generally do sich things these days fer love.”

“Mr. Jasper hadn’t anything to do with that will,” Betty angrily protested.  “He didn’t know anything about it, neither did I.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t know,” and the old woman gave a sarcastic chuckle.  “He wouldn’t want people to know what he was doin’.  He was cute enough fer that.  And then to think that he should kill Crazy David to git his money.  Why the poor old man couldn’t have lived much longer, anyway.”

“You lie!” and Betty, trembling in every limb, sprang to her feet.  “Mr. Jasper didn’t do it.  I tell you he didn’t, and you have no right to say such things.”

“Come, Betty,” Lois remarked, rising to her feet and taking the girl by the arm, “let us go home.”

“Ye may not believe me,” the old woman called after them as they walked away, “but ye’ll soon find out fer yerselves, and then maybe ye won’t talk so big and mighty.”

Betty was going to reply, but Lois checked her.

“I wouldn’t say anything more, dear,” she advised.  “We must expect people to talk and imagine all sorts of things.  Let us be brave and hope for the best.”

“But I can’t bear to hear them say such awful things about Mr. Jasper,” the girl sobbed.  “I’m sure he didn’t get Mr. David to make his will, and then kill him to get the money.”

“So am I, Betty.  But I’m afraid we’ll be the only ones who think so.  We’ll stand by him, anyway, and do all we can for him, won’t we?”

Lois suddenly stopped and her face went pale.  They had now come in sight of Jasper’s cabin, and near it were several men.  On the road were most of the people who had been at the funeral.  That they were greatly excited was quite evident.  In an instant Lois realised the meaning of it all, and she clutched Betty by the arm in the intensity of her emotion.

“They are going to arrest him!” Her voice was hoarse, and she spoke scarcely above a whisper.

“Who?” Betty asked in surprise, not fully comprehending the meaning of her words.