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 dangerous witnesses against ye?" demanded Simpson's voice sharply.

"Nay"—Mistress Ranfield's shrewish voice assumed a whine—"I be sorry"

"Sorry!" Simpson's voice hurled back scorn at her. "Much good thy sorrow will do thee when the noose be drawn tight!"

There was a sharp cry from Mistress Ranfield at these sinister words. Then silence. At last came a sigh from the woman.

"Well, the piece o' letter be gone," she said resignedly. Came the sound of a chair being scraped over the floor. Footsteps! "I know, at any rate, who hath the information and" Suddenly the kitchen door flew open, and Mehitable found herself staring up into Mistress Ranfield's amazed face. "And here she be now!"

"Who?" Simpson peered over his fellow Tory's shoulder.

Mehitable sprang to her feet. Too late, at the look of triumph upon their faces, she realized how foolish she had been! Affairs were not turning out as she had planned at all, she told herself shakily. She was to have confronted Mistress Ranfield quietly and coldly in the presence of the woman's husband and Squire Condit and force the woman to give up her odious calling!

With a wild glance at the door, Mehitable took a step forward. The next instant, Simpson had