Page:Stringer - Lonely O'Malley.djvu/260

 nailed two old pigots together, crossways, with a hunk of stone for a hammer. Then I crawled back and waited for my chance, and put that cross plum down in the woman's path, right between a grape-trellis and a corner of the house, where she 'd have to step over it, for sure. Then I stood back in the shadow of the house, and waited for her to come round to the front again. And it kept gettin' darker and darker, and I tell you what, I kind o' wished I was good and safe out o' that!

"When she seen that cross the woman stopped, kind o' puzzled like, and looked up kind o' fretful, and rubbed her nose kind o' inquirin', and I could hear her askin' herself over and over again why somebody 'd killed her that way in cold blood. So I stepped right out in front of her, at that, and asked her what was a-troublin' her so much. She said 'Land's sake, who 's that?' rubbed her nose again, kind o' hesitatin', and started backin' away. Then she stopped, and looked at me kind o' sad for about a minute. Then she said 'Folly me,' and led me right into the old white house, and up the old stairs, slow and solemn,