It was midnight when the Prims and their guests arose from the table. Hettie Penning was with them, and everyone present had been sworn to secrecy about her share in the tragedy of the previous night. On the morrow she would return to Payson and no one there the wiser; but first she had Burton send to the jail for Giova, who was being held as a witness, and Giova promised to come and work for the Pennings. At last Bridge stole a few minutes alone with Abigail, or, to be more strictly a truthful historian, Abigail outgeneraled the others of the company and drew Bridge out upon the veranda. “Tell me,” demanded the girl, “why you were so kind to me when you thought me a worthless little scamp of a boy who had robbed some one's home.” “I couldn't have told you a few hours ago,” said Bridge. “I used to wonder myself why I should feel toward a boy as I felt toward you,--it was inexplicable,--and then when I knew that you were a girl, I understood, for I knew that I loved you and had loved you from the moment that we met there in the dark and the rain beside the Road to Anywhere.” “Isn't it wonderful?” murmured the girl, and she had other things in her heart to murmur; but a man's lips smothered hers as Bridge gathered her into his arms and strained her to him. ***** Partial list of correctioins made in the previous reproofing: PAGE PARA. LINE ORIGINAL CHANGED TO 10 6 emminent eminent 15 4 2 it's warmth its warmth 15 5 13 promisculously promiscuously 16 1 3 appelation appellation 19 3 it's scope its scope 21 6 by with seasons by seasons 25 1 8 Prim manage Prim menage 25 2 20 then, suspicious, then, suspicions, 28 12 even his even this 34 6 1 it's quality its quality 37 3 10 have any- have any 38 4 4 tin tear. tin ear. 39 2 6 Squibbs farm Squibbs' farm 40 2 2 his absence, his absence,” 47 5 1 sudden, clanking sudden clanking 47 8 3 its the thing it's the thing 48 5 2 was moment's was a moment's 59 9 4 bird aint bird ain't 60 8 3 dum misery dumb misery 71 2 dead Squibbs dead Squibb 74 1 2 tend during tent during 75 7 3 Squibbs house Squibbs' house 76 1 6 Squibbs home. Squibbs' home. 76 8 4 business, thats business, that's 78 1 1 Squibbs place Squibbs' place 78 2 1 Squibbs place!” Squibbs' place!”