As Tony peered around the bend in the road, Mrs. Dalton caught sight of him and uttered a piercing scream. Tony knew the horse to be that of Lemuel Dalton and he perceived at once that the situation was full of danger for him, as the unintentional frightening of white women in the South had furnished more than one victim for the mob. Knowing so well the feelings of Lemuel Dalton toward Negroes, he reasoned that if the white woman who had become frightened at him, returned to the house and reported that she had come upon a Negro with a drawn pistol, public opinion among the whites would at once adjudge him guilty of harboring a purpose of committing a dastardly crime against woman's honor. He knew that a strong suspicion to this effect meant instant and violent death to the party suspected. He was determined to see to it that the woman did not leave him in a disturbed frame of mind. Rushing forward, he grasped the horse's bridle. This all the more frightened and excited Mrs. Dalton. "Lady," said Tony, fear in every lineament of his face; "Lady," he repeated, in anxious tones, "don't be afraid. I am not going to harm you." Mrs. Dalton instinctively looked down at the pistol, which seemed to be a contradiction to his words. Seeing the look and interpreting it, Tony said, "There, I have thrown it away," accompanying his words with the casting of the pistol by the roadside. Mrs. Dalton yet said nothing, her eye following the pistol. She noted that Tony had not thrown it very far away. Tony, who was studying her countenance with a full knowledge of the fact that his life depended upon the outcome of the interview, read her impression that the casting aside of the pistol was but a ruse. "Lady," said Tony, "I have caught hold of your horse to keep you from going away from me frightened, for the white people will kill me on a mere suspicion of wrong intention on my part. I am harmless. I used to live out here." This last remark increased Mrs. Dalton's agitation. She had heard of Harry Dalton, knew nothing of his death and feared that this was he, returning for vengeance. "I got into trouble in the city and am running away. That's how I am out here so early." "Oh, he is a criminal," said Mrs. Dalton, excitedly. Tony saw that talking did not better his case, so he stopped. He bowed his head to meditate. Mrs. Dalton thought that he was planning an attack, and her agitation was increasing every second. "Plague on it!" said Tony. "I am in a pretty fix. I'll swear I wish those 'cops' had me safe in prison. I have swapped the witch for the devil." Addressing Mrs. Dalton he said: "Well, lady, I'll let you go and take my chances."