"Dear me! Something serious has happened, I am sure!" and seeing a boy standing irresolute on the walk, addressed him: "Here boy, do you know what is going on down there?" "A crazy woman," the boy answered, drawing near. "She's wading in the river." "Poor thing!" sympathetically exclaimed Mrs. Harris. "What is she wading in the river for? Did you hear her speak?" "Yes'm, a little; but I was afraid and didn't stay but a minute. I came up to phone the police." "Dear me! What did the poor creature say?" "She said her baby was drowned. I'm pretty sure she called it Dorothy." An agonizing shriek of "Constance!" broke from the three women simultaneously, and horror and consternation was depicted on every countenance. "Almighty Heaven!" exclaimed Virginia, whose face had blanched at the news. "She has followed me here. I'll get some wraps, for poor Constance must be chilled through and through," and with that she hastened into the house. "Virginia, dear!" Mrs. Harris called after her, "you will find wraps in my room." Hazel had already started toward the river, and noting the girl's impatience, she went on: "Hazel and I will not wait for you." As Mrs. Harris followed after Hazel, she kept muttering: "Dear me! What a shock! What a shock to one's nerves!" CHAPTER XXII. The officers, with their prisoners, had reached the railway track, and were leisurely walking toward the little station when a commotion in a group of people on the shingle, a couple of hundred yards ahead, attracted their attention. Smith, who had accompanied the officers, started to investigate. He had proceeded but a short distance when his movement was accelerated by seeing Mr. Harris and Sam hastening down the slope toward the little group before mentioned. Upon arrival at the station, one of the officers, Simms, hurried forward to ascertain the cause of the trouble, for evidently something serious had happened. The two prisoners were thus left, handcuffed, it is true, but under guard of only one officer, whose attention was also attracted by the excitement ahead. The officer gave his prisoners little attention, for he believed they were perfectly secure, as Jack's right wrist was handcuffed to the officer and Rutley was linked to Jack. Rutley soon found that he could "slip the bracelet" and, nudging Jack, displayed his free hand. Jack gave him a significant wink, at the same time gently nodded his head for him to "break." For an instant Rutley was tempted to strike down the unsuspecting officer, and attempt to release Jack, but the chance of detection in the act, and inviting instant pursuit was so great, that he decided to try to escape alone. Silently he stepped apart; farther, then he slipped behind the station. A swift, noiseless dash to a culvert, through it and up along a small ravine, soon put him out of sight of the officers. His last view of them convinced him that they were still unmindful of his escape.