Then the man who had encountered the police officer darted swiftly from the vicinity.
A timid man bent over the fallen officer.
The Sheriff heard the startling cry from without and rushed into the front room, passing Rose, who crowded in the shadows, without noticing her. He gained the walk and soon stood over the fallen officer.
"I heard a shot," cried the sheriff, in an excited tone. "Who did it? Is the man dead?"
"I don't know answered the other," who seemed to be an ordinary pedestrian. "I saw a man talking with a woman there, at your door. He walked away and met the officer, then came a scuffle and a shot."
"Exactly," muttered the sheriff, laying his hand on the man's arm. "You will consider yourself my prisoner."
"But I haven't done a thing."
"We'll see about that."
At this moment the policeman moved and assumed a sitting posture.
"No, the man's right," he said in a labored tone.