Just at that moment some one pounded on the knocker in a very imperative way, and Fanny said, "Goodness, somebody must be dying!" The doctor went to the front door and opened it. Even he, for a second, was startled, as he saw three men standing there.
"Good-evening," said the doctor. "Anybody sick? Hello, Dimmock, I didn't see you. What's the matter?"
Mr. Dimmock seemed somewhat embarrassed, and said: "No, we ain't none of us sick; but fact is, doctor, we're after a runaway nigger, and my friends here—Mr. Sterling and Mr. Pratt—say they traced him right up here about ten minutes ago, and they just brought me along to make the warrant right, as I'm United States Commissioner, you know. Have you got the fellow, and will you give him up?"
"Upon my word!" said the doctor, putting his hands behind his back and holding a hat in one of them. "Do you suppose that I've got him here, with you pretty nearly next door? And don't you know well enough that if I had I wouldn't tell you?"
"Pretty high and mighty, doctor," said the man they called Dimmock. "In the name of the United States, I demand to search this house. We've been through your barn a'ready."
"It's a—an outrage," said the doctor; "so search, if you please; you won't find anybody." And he stepped aside, and said, "Walk in, gentlemen. I have the highest respect for your authority—if not for your business."
As the men walked into the room, Patty said, "Father, is Mr. Dimmock going up into my room?"
"I suppose so," said her father; "no place is sacred when Mr. Dimmock goes hunting."
"Then I must go up a moment first," said Patty; "it isn't in order." And she left the room.
Mrs. Miller sat still and looked at the men, and Mr. Mason rose to his feet, saying,