Brown, or lifted him upon the hook, even if
he did not resist."
"He murdered him, I tell you, he murdered him!"
shrieked the woman, who seemed bereft of reason.
"I call upon you to arrest him."
"I am not a constable, Maria."
"Then tie him so he cannot get away, and
go for a constable. I wouldn't feel safe with
him in the house, unless he were tied fast.
He might hang me!"
Terrible as the circumstances were, Carl felt
an impulse to laugh. It seemed absurd to hear
himself talked of in this way.
"Tie me if you like!" he said. "I am will-
ing to wait here till some one comes who has
a little common sense. Just remember that
I am only a boy, and haven't the strength of
a full-grown man!"
"The boy is right, Maria! It's a foolish idea of yours."
"I call upon you to tie the villain!" insisted the woman.
"Just as you say! Can you give me some rope?"
From a drawer Mrs. Brown drew a quantity
of strong cord, and the man proceeded to
tie Carl's hands.
"Tie his feet, too, Walter!"
"Even if you didn't tie me, I would promise
to remain here. I don't want anybody to
suspect me of such a thing," put in Carl.
"How artful he is!" said Mrs. Brown.
"Tie him strong, Walter."
The two were left alone, Carl feeling decidedly
uncomfortable. The newly-made widow
laid her head upon the table and moaned,
glancing occasionally at the body of her husband,
as it still hung suspended from the hook.
"Oh, William, I little expected to find you
dead!" she groaned. "I only went to the store
to buy a pound of salt, and when I come back,
I find you cold and still, the victim of a young
ruffian! How could you be so wicked?" she
demanded fiercely of Carl.
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