"No," she continued, seated again and looking
across the desk at him, "I wanted to see you at the
first possible opportunity, but what I have to say--"

"Wait," he interrupted. "Let me tell you why
I did not come yesterday."

"You need not tell me. I know." She glanced
at the chair which had been occupied by Mrs. Fear.
"I knew last night that they had sent for you."

"You did?" he exclaimed. "Ah, I understand.
Sam Warden must have told you."

"Yes," she said. "It was he; and I have been
wondering ever since how he heard of it. He
knew last night, but there was nothing in the
papers this morning; and until I came here I
heard no one else speak of it; yet Canaan is not
large."

Joe laughed. "It wouldn't seem strange if
you lived with the Canaan that I do. Sam had
been down-town during the afternoon and had met
friends; the colored people are a good deal like a
freemasonry, you know. A great many knew last
night all about what had happened, and had their
theories about what might happen to-day in case
the two men met. Still, you see, those who knew,
also knew just what people not to tell. The Tocsin