More than once, when the nights were at their darkest and the wind and rain were sweeping over the sea with a sullen roar, Paul could hear his tread and knew Tom was out in the storm like a faithful watch-dog. If Stevens, the jailer, suspected these vigils, he made no sign. Indeed, he would scarcely have interfered if he had known Paul was trying to escape. He might not have helped him, but he would have kept silent and wished him godspeed. Popular sympathy was all with Paul. That he shot Jack Percy people believed, but shot him either by mistake, or in self-defense, and great was the surprise at his emphatic denial of any complicity in the matter. He had told a straightforward story at the first and adhered to it ever after. He was angry with Jack and looking for him,—not to do him harm,—but to give him a message from his sister. He didn’t find him, but must have passed near him as he remembered thinking there was some dark object under the clump of bushes, but did not stop to investigate. As he left the woods he could see the path and the bridge leading in the direction of Oceanside. Jack was not on either. Thinking he heard footsteps to the right, he turned that way and went as far as the brick kiln without meeting any one, until he struck into Highland Avenue, where he met Tom returning from Still Haven and walked with him towards home, hearing before he reached there of the shooting. That was all he knew. The revolver was his, but how it came where it was found he did not know. He had no theory; he suspected no one. This was his story, from which he never varied. He knew that nearly everybody believed he shot Jack except his parents and Tom. The latter, who was oftenest seen, stood firm as a rock for entire innocence, corroborating what Paul said of joining him on the Highland Avenue and walking with him till they heard somebody had been shot and carried into Miss Hansford’s cottage. He, Tom, had gone to the stable to attend to the horses, and Paul had started at once for Miss Hansford’s. This was Tom’s story, to which he stood firm, and when asked who did it, if Paul did not, answered, “Only two know,—the one who did it and the Lord, who, if worst comes to worst, will make it plain.”