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Lige chuckled as they left the kitchen "I guess you didn't try too hard

to shut that door, Harkless," he said, and then, when they cahted room, "Why, where is Harkless?" he asked "Didn't he come with

us froone" She sank upon the sofa and

drew her hand across her eyes as if to shade thee dropped his book and stared across the table at the

girl "Gone! When?"

"Ten minutes--five--half an hour--I don't know Before the storentleman appeared to be reassured "Probably he had work to

do and wanted to get in before the rain"

But Lige Willetts was turning pale He sed several tio? He didn't come around the house; ere

out there till the storot to the road he turned that way"

She pointed to the west

"He e "What possessed the

fellow?"

"I couldn't stop him I didn't kno" She looked at her three

co terror, from one face to another