Once shut up in the dark in company with his ruby lantern, Billy fell to work on a picture of Allyn, taken only the day before. So absorbed was he that it was only vaguely that he heard the voices of Phebe and Isabel in the barn close at hand. The murmur went on for some moments, broken by girlish gigglings and little squeals of merriment. Suddenly there came another squeal, louder, this time, and more earnest; there was an interchange of swift, low words, and then silence fell, and Billy dismissed the incident from his mind.
The picture proved refractory and refused to come out. Then at length Billy gave it up in despair, threw away the developing fluid, cast the plate into a pile of similar failures, took up his crutches, and started for the house again. On the way, he met Phebe and Isabel. They looked at him furtively as he passed.
"Nothing. I only thought you looked tired," she replied, with unusual thoughtfulness.
"So I am, of doing nothing. Come in and play casino with me."
"Can't," Phebe said hastily. "We'd like to, Billy; but there's something else we've got to do."
They were all seated at the dinner-table, that noon, when the doctor came into the room. His face was white and very stern.
"Vigil is dead," he said abruptly. "Do any of you children know anything about it?"
"I don't," said the twins, in a breath, and Hope echoed them; but Phebe started and cast a swift glance at Billy.
"Do you, Billy?" the doctor asked, for the glance was not lost on him.
"This noon, when I came in, I found her. She was groaning pitifully, and very weak. I wonder that you didn't hear her."
"She died?" Billy asked sympathetically, for the doctor's voice broke over the last words. Vigil had been his favorite horse, and together, man and beast, they had passed through many a tragic night and day. Such friends cause bitter mourning.
"I shot her, to put her out of her misery," he responded briefly. Then he turned to Phebe.
"Phebe, do you know anything about this?"
"No," she stammered. "At least, not exactly."
"What do you mean? Do you know anything about Vigil?"
For her only reply, she burst out crying, and cast another glance at Billy. Her father took her hand and led her away to the office.
"Now, Phebe, I want you to tell me about this," he said.