"Where were you to-night, Sam? Miss Nancy expected you to meet her at the Perry's." "I went dar, suh, but I seed a lot ob men a-hangin' 'roun' watchin' de place, so I jes' cum on heah, thinkin' p'raps Miss Nancy mite be wif yo'. I done got de papah she wanted." "Miss Nancy leaves at nine o'clock for Winchester." "Golly! Den I mus' git right 'roun' an' gib her dis heah papah." Sam started for the door. "Stop!" commanded Boyd. "The Newtons' house is also watched by Secret Service agents. I saw them sneaking about the yard when I left Miss Nancy an hour ago. If you go there at this hour you will be arrested instantly." Sam scratched his woolly head in perplexity. "I reckon if I jes' go to der back alley an' whistle fo' Misery dey won' notice dis ole nigger," he volunteered hopefully, after a moment's thought. "What good would that do you?" "I'll jes' slip de papah in de dawg's collah, an' he'll take it ter Missy same as he brings her messages ter me." Boyd shook his head. "It is too much to risk on a dog's sagacity now that suspicion is directed toward Miss Nancy." "Den 'spose I meet Missy at de train an' slip de papah in her han'." "Unfortunately she is shadowed wherever she goes. Sit down a moment, Sam, and let me think." The doctor stroked his chin reflectively. "I'm afraid if I go to their house on the pretext of giving Miss Metoaca medicine I will be searched, and if that paper is incriminating we will all swing together. Here, let me read the message, and then I can repeat it to Miss Nancy at the station." "No, suh, 'scuse me, suh, but dis heah papah was ter be delibered ter her pussionally." "I am the best judge of that. Give me the paper at once." "No, suh," reiterated Sam obstinately. "Cunnel Newton tole me I was ter do 'zackly what Miss Nancy oddered, 'kase he willed meh ter her fo' he died, an' I'se her serbent now same as I wore his body serbent." "Confound your stupidity," growled Doctor Boyd. At that moment a sound from the basement reached his quick ear. Signing to Sam to remain where he was, Boyd tiptoed out into the hall and over to the back stairs. The kitchen door creaked dolefully as it was pushed open by an old woman who walked heavily along the lower hall toward the stairs carrying a lighted candle. The doctor drew a sigh of relief. "Glad you have returned, Martha," he called softly. "Please bring some ice water into my office on your way to bed." Sam was plucking nervously at his old hat when the doctor reentered the office. "'Tain't 'kase I doan _want_ ter gib yo' dat papah, suh," he began confusedly, edging toward the open hall door. "But de cunnel, he brunged meh up ter obey his odders, same as he done Miss Nancy. His word wore law to eb'ry one on de plantashun. I reckon I'se jes' got ter fin' some way ob reachin' Miss Nancy." "You won't have to reach far," volunteered a familiar voice from the doorway. Sam wheeled about and a gasp escaped him.