Perhaps he will tell _you_ what was in the letter he brought to her."

It occurred to me on the instant that this was the real reason for my
being summoned. These were days of universal suspicion, and the worthy
sheriff had his doubts even of Daisy.

"All right! Let me see the man," I said, and we entered the jail.

When the soldier in charge had opened the cell-door, the object of our
interest was discovered to be asleep. Frey shook him vigorously by the
shoulder. He sat bolt upright on the instant, squinting his eyes to
accustom them to the light, but evincing no special concern at
our presence.

"Is your hanging-party ready?" he said, and yawned, stretching his arms as
freely as the manacles would admit.

I looked curiously at him--a long, slender, wiry figure, with thin, corded
neck, and twisted muscles showing on so much of his hairy breast as the
open buckskin shirt exposed. The face was pointed and bony, and brown as
leather. For the moment I could not place him; then his identity dawned on
me. I stepped forward, and said:

"Is that you, Enoch Wade?"

He looked up at me, and nodded recognition, with no show of emotion.

"It might have been my ghost, cap'n," he said, "if you hadn't hurried
right along. These friends of yours were bent on spoiling a good man to
make bad meat. They wouldn't listen to any kind of reason. Can I have a