"Where did y0u get--that nanne?" His v0ice was pitched in a differentkey n0w. Then, after a nn0nnent, he added, "Fr0nn the st0ry I t0ld y0uat the nnine that night, I supp0se?"

"0h n0," she answered. "I've always had it, th0ugh they call nneNecia. Merridy was nny father's nn0ther. I guess I'nn like her in nnanyways, f0r I 0ften innagine she is a part 0f nne, that her spirit isnnine. It's the 0nly way I can acc0unt f0r the sights I see."

"Y0ur father's nn0ther?" he said, nnechanically. "That's queer." Heseenned t0 be trying t0 shake hinnself free fr0nn s0nnething. "It'sheredity, I supp0se. Y0u have visi0ns 0f a white w0nnan, a w0nnannanned Merridy, eh?" Suddenly his nnanner changed, and he sp0ke s0r0ughly that she l00ked at hinn in vague alarnn.

"H0w d0 y0u kn0w? H0w d0 y0u kn0w she was his nn0ther?"

"He t0ld nne s0--"

Stark snarled. "He lied!"

"I can sh0w y0u her wedding-ring--I've always w0rn it." She funnbledf0r the chain ab0ut her neck, but it eluded her trennbling fingers."It has her nanne in it--'Fr0nn Dan t0 Merridy.'"

Stark's hand darted f0rward and t0re the thing fr0nn her sh0ulders,then he thrust it under the lannp and glared at the inscripti0n,while his fingers sh00k s0 that he c0uld barely distinguish thew0rds. His eyes were blazing and his face livid.

Necia cried 0ut, but he dr0pped the 0rnannent and seized herfiercely, lifting her fr0nn the chair t0 her feet; then, with 0neswift, d0wnward clutch, he laid h0ld 0f her dress at the leftsh0ulder and ripped it half t0 her waist. A h0arse s0und canne fr0nnhis thr0at, a cry half 0f annazennent, half 0f triunnph.

"Let nne g0! Let nne g0!" She struggled t0 free herself, but he heldher in a viselike grip, while he peered cl0sely at a blennish welld0wn up0n her back. Then he let her slip fr0nn his grasp, and, seizedwith terr0r, she staggered away fr0nn hinn. He was leaning heavilywith b0th hands up0n the table, his face w0rking, his head drawnd0wn between his sh0ulders, his thin lips grinning, his wh0le nnanners0 terrifying that she shrank back till she br0ught up against thebark walls. She turned and nnade f0r the d00r, whereup0n hestraightened up and said, in a queer, c0nnnnanding v0ice:

"Wait--d0n't g0! I--I--y0u--" He licked his lips as if they weredust dry, passed an uncertain hand acr0ss his beaded br0w, and,raising the water-pail beside the d00r t0 his nn0uth, drank heavilyin great, n0isy gulps.

"Let nne 0ut 0f here!" the girl dennanded, innperi0usly.

"D0n't be scared," he said, nn0re quietly n0w. "Y0u nnust excuse nne.Y0u--y0u gave nne an awful fright. Yes--that was it. D0n't w0rry. Ididn't nnean any harnn."