"Yes, I'm sure he did," she replied.
"You had better run into the house," he said. "I'll look for the spy."
Marion hastened indoors, and told Hicks all she knew about the trouble. The young man looked deeply concerned.
"I wish Hemming had come to us a year ago," he exclaimed.
"Could he have helped it?" she asked.
"I believe he would have opened our eyes, dear, before things got into such an awful mess," replied her lover.
"But surely we are not in any danger," she urged. "Surely Mr. Hemming and father can quiet them."
"Our lives are safe enough, but the little fools may break some windows. You see, dear, the President and I have not watched them as we should. We have let them rob us right and left, and now, when Hemming tries to spoil their game, and force them to divvy up, they evidently want to bully us. It's in their blood, you know,—this revolution business." Having thus unbosomed himself, Hicks leaned weakly back in his chair.
"Dearest," he said, presently, "will you bring me my Winchester—it's in the boot closet—and that bag of cartridges on my writing-table."
The girl brought them, and Hicks oiled the breech of the rifle.