"What are you doing here?" asked the man.
"I beg your pardon," answered Carl; "I
was very hungry, and seeing no one about, took
the liberty to sit down at the table and eat.
I am willing to pay for my dinner if you will
tell me how much it amounts to."
"Wasn't my husband here?" asked the woman.
"I--I am afraid something has happened to your husband,"
faltered Carl.
"What do you mean?"
Carl silently pointed to the chamber door.
The woman opened it, and uttered a loud shriek.
"Look here, Walter!" she cried.
Her companion quickly came to her side.
"My husband is dead!" cried the woman;
"basely murdered, and there," pointing fiercely
to Carl, "there stands the murderer!"
"Madam, you cannot believe this!" said Carl,
naturally agitated.
"What have you to say for yourself?"
demanded the man, suspiciously.
"I only just saw--your husband," continued
Carl, addressing himself to the woman. "I
had finished my meal, when I began to search
for some one whom I could pay, and so opened
this door into the room beyond, when I saw
--him hanging there!"
"Don't believe him, the red-handed
murderer!" broke out the woman, fiercely. "He
is probably a thief; he killed my poor husband,
and then sat down like a cold-blooded villain
that he is, and gorged himself."
Things began to look very serious for poor Carl.
"Your husband is larger and stronger than myself,"
he urged, desperately. "How could I overpower him?"
"It looks reasonable, Maria," said the man.
"I don't see how the boy could have killed Mr.
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