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 sure I was a minute or two ahead of Ben when I came to the store. I thought as I ran.

"I'll make Weekes lock the door and lie low," I said. "If he won't, and kills Ben Habersham, it will be against him."

But I prayed that Ginger Gillett would come quick. This was his business, and he was in his element in dealing with such things. Perhaps I was a fool, and yet I saw poor Mrs. Habersham's face, and remembered her as she was when she sat talking of the fruit and flowers of "God's country."

I ran into the store. Ginger Gillett and Smith were there before me! It seemed a miracle at the time, but I knew aftewards that my words to Keno Gedge had nothing to do with it.

The store was long and deep, and one dim lamp only lighted it. On one side were dry goods on shelves and stacked on the counter. The other side was filled with hardware, with shining tins, with lamps, and all kinds of household gear. The back part of the store was in deep shadow. It was full of casks and bales of all sorts. From