A pall settled over the river; it reached far beyond the environs
of Windomville, for Amos Vick was a man known and respected by
every farmer in the district.
Night came. Courtney Thane, considerably shaken by the tragedy,
set out immediately after dinner for the home of Alix Crown. He
had been silent and depressed at dinner, taking his little part in
the conversation, which dealt exclusively with the incomprehensible
act of young Rosabel Vick.
"What possible reason could that pretty happy young girl have had
for killing herself?" That was the question every one asked and
no one answered. Mrs. Maude Baggs Pollock repeatedly asked it at
dinner, and once Thane had replied:
"I still don't believe she killed herself. It is beyond belief.
If she is out there in the river, as they suspect, it is because
there was foul play. Some fiend attacked her. I will never believe
anything else, Mrs. Pollock. I knew her too well. She would never
dream of killing herself. She loved life too well. I can't help
feeling that she is alive and well somewhere, that they will hear
from her in a day or two, and that--"
"But how about the things they found in that boat?" demanded Doc
Simpson. "She wouldn't be so heartless as to play a trick like that
on her folks."
Courtney's answer was a gloomy shake of the head.
His heart was pounding heavily as he trudged up the walk to
Alix's door.
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