The suspicion leaped to a conviction in the twinkling of an eye. If Rufe Kenyon was not at liberty, then he must be right in what he thought.
"I do not know that your brother has tried to escape. I do not know anything about him. I did think that he might be Muriel, the moonshiner."
Kate laughed.
"You-uns war plumb mistooken thar," she said, positively. "Rufe is not Muriel."
"Then," cried Frank, "you are Muriel yourself!"
Kate Kenyon seemed astounded.
"Have you-uns gone plumb dafty?" asked the girl, in a dazed way. "Me Muriel! Wal, that beats all!"
"But you are—I am sure of it," said Frank, swiftly.
The girl laughed.
"Well, that beats me! Of course I'm not Muriel; but he's ther best friend I've got in these maountings."