woman in a very sordid and matter-of-fact manner. It meant nothing more to them, apparently, than a punctured tire means to a motorist, or a broken teacup to a flat-dweller. Yet under that same roof, within the last few minutes, a human life had gone out—and all they were worrying about was how best to get rid of the remains!
My thoughts, however, soon came back to myself, for that strange trio were still gabbling away on the other side of the door.
"And here's another point," I could hear one of the old men say. "The moment the thing is over you'd better give that girl the needle. Give her enough of something to keep her under for a couple of hours."
"But what'll you do with her?" inquired the man of medicine. And I knew they were referring to me.
"We'll get her out of this house and stowed away in her sleeper for the West. If she's so anxious to travel, we're not going to detain her any!"
"Why couldn't Miss Ledwidge go with her—as far as Buffalo, at any rate—and make sure she's not going to double back and stir up trouble here?"
"She's not fool enough to wade back into this bon-fire!" was the little old weasel's retort. "And
