“Then he must have discovered something after I left him,” said Kent to Sedgwick, “for he never could have kept his secret if he’d had it then.” “But what motive could he have?” cried the artist. “Just mischief, probably. That’s enough motive for his sort.” Turning to the store-keeper Kent asked: “Do you happen to know how Mr. Dennett spent the early part of this afternoon?” “I surely do. He was up to Dimmock’s rummage auction, an’ he got something there that tickled him like a feather. But he wouldn’t let on what it was.” “The original!” said Sedgwick. “What does Dimmock deal in?” “All kinds of odds and ends. He scrapes the country for bankrupt sales, an’ has a big auction once a year. Everybody goes. You can find anything from a plough-handle to a second-hand marriage certificate at his place.” “We now call on Elder Dennett,” said Kent. That worthy was about closing up shop when they entered. “Don’t your lamp work right, yet, Professor Kent?” he inquired. “Perfectly,” responded the scientist. “We have come to see you on another matter, Mr. Sedgwick and I.” “First, let me thank you,” said Sedgwick, “for the curious work of art which you left at my place.” “Hay-ee?” inquired the Elder, with a rising inflection. “Don’t take the trouble to lie about it,” put in Kent. “Just show us the original of the drawing which you traced so handily.” The town gossip shifted uneasily from foot to foot. “How’d you know I got the picture?” he giggled. “I didn’t find it, myself, till I got back from the auction.” “Never mind the process. Have you the original here?” “Yes,” said Elder Dennett; and, going to his desk he brought back a square of heavy bluish paper, slightly discolored at the edges. “That’s a very good bit of drawing,” said Sedgwick, as he and Kent bent over the paper. “But unsigned,” said his companion. “Now, Mr. Dennett, whom do you suppose this to be?” “Why, the lady that stopped to talk with Mr. Sedgwick, and was killed in Lonesome Cove.” “Then why did you leave out this earring in copying the picture?” “Aw—well,” explained the other in some confusion, “she didn’t have no earrings on when I seen her. And it looks a lot more like, without it.” “Your bent for gratuitous mischief amounts to a passion,” retorted the scientist. “Some day it will get you into deserved trouble, I trust.” “I guess there ain’t no law to prevent my givin’ away a picture, if I like,” sulked the Elder. “Perhaps you’d like to give away another one.” Yankee shrewdness sparkled in the eye of Mr. Dennett. “Mr. Sedgwick said that was a good drawin’, and I guess he knows. I guess it’s worth money.” “How much money, would you guess?” “Five dollars,” replied the other, in a bold expulsion of breath. At this moment, Sedgwick, who had been studying the picture in the light, made a slight signal with his hand, which did not escape Kent.