She continued, fixing her black eyes on Betty: "You're here alone at Belle Plain--you know what happened when Mr.Tom started for Memphis last time?
I reckon you-all ain't forgot that!" Betty felt a pallor steal over her face.

She rested a hand that shook on the trunk of a tree to steady herself.

The girl laughed shortly.
"Don't be so scared; I reckon Belle Plain's as good as his if anything happened to you ?" By a great effort Betty gained a measure of control over herself.

She took a step nearer and looked the girl steadily in the face.
"Perhaps you will stop this sort of talk, and tell me what is going to happen to me--if you know ?" she said quietly.
"Why do you reckon Mr.Norton was shot?
I can tell you why--it was all along of you--that was why!" The girl's furtive glance, which searched and watched the gathering shadows, came back as it always did to Betty's pale face.

"You ain't no safer than he was, I tell you!" and she sucked in her breath sharply between her full red lips.
"What do you mean ?" faltered Betty.
"Do you reckon you're safe here in the big house alone?
Why do you reckon Mr.Tom cleared out for Memphis?
It was because he couldn't be around and have anything happen to you--that was why!" and the girl sank her voice to a whisper.