"She will die Dr. Jim. Two days ago I felt that she would die. So I came over to see her. She was afraid of death, till I talked to her. Now she is quite peaceful. She does not fear." "Are you afraid of death Sidney?" "Why should I be? I know." "You know what?" "That there is nothing to be afraid of." The boy spoke quite serenely and without any suggestion of pose. He had conducted Herrick to the dining-room and the two were seated opposite one another. On the table were the remains of Sidney's breakfast,--a glass of milk, some fruit and a loaf of bread. "I had to get these myself," he said, "Petronella is in bed in Mrs. Marsh's room. She is very ill." "I knew she was ill some time ago," replied Herrick trying to assert himself, "but I think I can cure her." "She will not live," said Sidney, staring in the most unwinking manner at Dr. Jim. "She will die before sunset. I know." "Can you explain how you do know?" asked the doctor roughly. This time it was the boy who was puzzled, "I can't," he said. "I feel that Petronella will die. I can say no more than that." Herrick groaned. It was useless to try and understand this extraordinary lad. Evidently he did not understand himself. Yet his former prophecies had come to pass so absolutely, that Dr. Jim could not help thinking that this last would come true also. However, this was not the business about which he had come. "Sidney," he said after a pause, "do you know that Frisco, who used to be with Colonel Carr, has been arrested?" "I heard Bess say so." "What do you think of it?" "I never thought of it at all. He is in no danger, Dr. Jim. It was not Frisco who killed Colonel Carr." "How do you know that?" asked Herrick startled. Was the boy about to confess that he was guilty. "I was in the house just after Colonel Carr was killed." "Oh! Then you did not shoot him yourself?" Sidney frowned, but appeared very little disturbed. "Why should I have killed him?" he said calmly. "Colonel Carr was a wicked man. I told him he would die by violence some day. But he only laughed at me. He thought I was mad or a fool. You do also, Dr. Jim." "I don't know what to think," said Jim angrily; "I never met anyone like you before, Sidney. If I had not some knowledge that the things you say come true I should think you were pretending. A boy like you ought to be whipped." "That is what the Colonel said," replied Sidney quietly. "But tell me, Dr. Jim, did you really think I had killed him?" "I did not. But Frisco says you did." "If he believed that, he would not have run away," said Sidney shrewdly. "Well come to the point. Who murdered the Colonel?" "Petronella," said Sidney.