to him when he'd finished with her and having a bit more talk with him, when they both disappeared into Chipchase's shop—there's a refreshment room there, you know, where folks can get tea and such like, and I made out that they were going to continue their talk in it. So I went my ways and I saw no more of him. And as I reckon things up this murder must ha' taken place very nigh as soon as Wraypoole got back to London. It was certainly within two or three days o' my seeing him with that woman."
"What could he be wanting with her, now?" asked the second man. "Old friends, maybe?"
"Why, her family's been in these parts a good while," answered the first speaker. "Comes from beyond Ashlowe Ridge, she does. Queer woman, too! Had her own way yonder at Mortover Grange."
"They say that there'll be some rare changes there, now that this coal-mine's to be started. Young Philip'll be rolling in money! And by all accounts money's been scarce enough with these Mortovers up to now!"
"Poor as church mice! I've known three generations of 'em—they never had naught, none of 'em. Poor and proud! And it's all very well talking about young Philip coming in for so much over this colliery, but there's been
