same you's a boy!"

"Do you ever see Mr. Louden, nowadays?" she
asked.

His laugh was repeated with the same discreet
violence. "Ain' I seen him dis ve'y day, fur up
de street at de gate yonnah, stan'in' 'ith you, w'en
I drivin' de Judge?"

"You--you didn't happen to see him anywhere
this--this afternoon?"

"No'm, I ain' SEE him." Sam's laughter
vanished and his lowered voice became serious. "I
ain' SEE him, but I hearn about him."

"What did you hear?"

"Dey be'n consid'able stir on de aidge o' town,
I reckon," he answered, gravely, "an' dey be'n
havin' some trouble out at de Beach--"

"Beaver Beach, do you mean?"

"Yes'm. Dey be'n some shootin' goin' on out
dat way."

She sprang forward and caught at his arm without
speaking.