"Why--why, Mrs.Ruth," he stammered, "he was just talkin' about--about a note he'd been collectin', and--and such." "Wasn't he speaking of his daughter--and--and my brother ?" This time Jed actually gasped.

Ruth drew a long breath.

"I knew it," she said.
"But--but, for mercy sakes, HOW did you know?
Did he-- ?" "No, he didn't see me at all.

I was watching him from the window.
But I saw his face and--" with a sudden gesture of desperation, "Oh, it wasn't that at all, Jed.

It was my guilty conscience, I guess.