"What is wanted?" she asked, in a tremulous voice.
"We want that precious scamp, Dix Lewis!" came the reply in the well-known voice of Sheriff Brady.
"Oh, dear! what does this mean?" she exclaimed.
"Are you going to open the door, or shall we have to break it down?"
"My son is not here—he is gone!" she cried. "He has——"
Renewed thumping on the door drowned the conclusion of her sentence.
"Gone?" demanded the furious tone of the sheriff. "Woman, what do you mean? Stave in the door, men!"
"No—no! I am opening it. How my hand does shake. Wait a moment, please."
Trembling so she could hardly stand alone, Mrs. Lewis soon threw open the door, saying:
"What has happened now?"