Theshot，thefindingofthebody，thesubsequentdiscoveryofthegun，wererapidlydeposedto；andthenthepolicemanwhohadinterruptedthequarrelbetweenJemWilsonandthemurderedyoungmanwasbroughtforward，andgavehisevidence，clear，simple，andstraightforward。Thecoronerhadnohesitation，thejuryhadnone，buttheverdictwascautiouslyworded。
“Wilfulmurderagainstsomepersonunknown。“Thisverycautiousness，whenbedeemedthethingsosureastorequirenocaution，irritatedMrCarson。Itdidnotsoothehimthatthesuperintendentcalledtheverdictamereform，——exhibitedawarrantem-poweringhimtoseizethebodyofJemWilson，committedonsuspicion，——declaredhisintentionofemployingawellknownofficerintheDetectiveServicetoascertaintheownershipofthegun，andtocollectotherevidenceespeciallyasregardedtheyoungwoman，aboutwhomthepolicemandeposedthatthequarrelhadtakenp]ace；MrCarsonwasstillexcitedandirritable；restlessinbodyandmind。HemadeeverypreparationfortheaccusationofJemthefollowingmorningbeforethemagistratesheengagedattorneysskilledincriminalpracticetowatchthecaseandpreparebriefs；hewrotetocelebratedbarristerscomingtheNortherncircuit，tobespeaktheirservices。Aspeedyconviction，aspeedyexecution，seemedtobetheonlythingsthatwouldsatisfyhiscravingthirstforblood。Hewouldhavefainbeenpoliceman，magistrate，accusingspeaker，all；butmostofall，thejudge，risingwithfullsentenceofdeathonhislips。Thatafternoon，asJaneWilsonhadbeguntofeeltheeffectofanight’sdisturbedrest，evincedinfrequentdroppingsofftosleepwhileshesatbyhersister-in-law’sbed-side，lulledbytheincessantcrooningoftheinvalid’sfeeblevoice，shewasstartledbyamanspeakinginthehouse-placebelow，who，weariedofknockingatthedoor，withoutobtaininganyanswer，hadenteredandwascallinglustilyfor“Missis!Missis!“WhenMrsWilsoncaughtaglimpseoftheintruderthroughthestair-rails，sheatoncesawhewasastranger，aworkingman，itmightbeafellow-labourerwithherson，forhisdresswasgrimyenoughforthesupposition。Heheldaguninhishand。“MayImakeboldtoaskifthisgunbelongstoyourson？“Shefirstlookedattheman，andthen，wearyandhalfasleep，notseeinganyreasonforrefusingtoanswertheenquiry，shemovedforwardtoexamineit，talkingwhileshelookedforcertainold-fashionedornamentsonthestock。“Itlookslikehis；aye，it’shis，sureenough。Icouldspeaktoitanywherebythesemarks。Youseeitwerehisgrandfather’sasweregamekeepertosomeoneupinth’north；andtheydon’tmakegunssosmartnow-a-days。
But，howcomedyoubyit？Hesetsgreatstoreonit。Isheboundfortheshootinggallery？Heisnot，forsure，nowhisauntissoill，andmeleftallalone“；andtheimmediatecauseofheranxietybeingthusrecalledtohermind，sheenteredonalongstoryofAlice’sillness，interspersedwithrecollectionsofherhusband’sandherchildren’sdeaths。Thedisguisedpolicemanlistenedforaminuteortwo，togleananyfurtherinformationhecould；andthen，sayinghewasinahurry，heturnedtogoaway。Shefollowedhimtothedoor，stilltellinghimhertroubles，andwasneverstruck，untilitwastoolatetoaskthereason，withtheunaccountablenessofhisconduct，incarryingthegunawaywithhim。Then，assheheavilyclimbedthestairs，sheputawaythewonderandthethoughtabouthisconductbydeterminingtobelievehewassomeworkmanwithwhomhersonhadmadesomearrangementaboutshootingatthegallery；ormendingtheoldweapon；orsomethingorother。Shehadenoughtofrether，withoutmoideringherselfaboutoldguns。Jemhadgivenithimtobringtoher；
soitwassafeenough；or，ifitwasnot，why，sheshouldbegladnevertoseteyesonitagain，forshecouldnotabidefire-arms，theyweresoapttoshootpeople。So，comfortingherselfforthewantofthoughtinnotmakingfurtherinquiry，shefelloffintoanotherdoze，feverish，dream-haunted，andunrefreshing。Meanwhile，thepolicemanwalkedoffwithhisprize，withanoddmixtureoffeelings；alittlecontempt，alittledisappointment，andagooddealofpity。Thecontemptandthedisappointmentwerecausedbythewidow’seasyadmissionofthegunbeingherson’sproperty，andhermannerofidentifyingitbytheornaments。Helikedanattempttobafflehim；hewasaccustomedtoit；itgavesomeexercisetohiswitsandhisshrewdness。Therewouldbenofuninfox-hunting，ifReynardyieldedhimselfupwithoutanyefforttoescape。Then，again，hismother’smilkwasyetinhim，policeman，officeroftheDetectiveServicethoughhewas；andhefeltsorryfortheoldwoman，whose“softness“hadgivensuchmaterialassistanceinidentifyinghersonasthemurderer。However，heconveyedthegun，andtheintelligencehehadgained，tothesuperintendent；andtheresultwas，that，inashorttimeafterwards，threepolicemenwenttotheworksatwhichJemwasforeman，andannouncedtheirerrandtotheastonishedoverseer，whodirectedthemtothepartofthefoundrywhereJemwasthensuperintendingacasting。Dark，blackwerethewalls，theground，thefacesaroundthem，astheycrossedtheyard。But，inthefurnace-house，adeepandluridredglaredoverall；thefurnaceroaredwithmightyflame。Themen，likedemons，intheirfire-and-sootcolouring，stoodswartaround，awaitingthemomentwhenthetonsofsolidironshouldhavemelteddownintofieryliquid，fittobepoured，withstill，heavysound，intothedelicatemouldingoffineblacksand，preparedtoreceiveit。Theheatwasintense，andtheredglaregreweveryinstantmorefierce；thepolicemenstoodawedwiththenovelsight。Then，blackfigures，holdingstrangeshapedbucket-shovels，cameathwartthedeep-redfurnacelight，andclearandbrilliantflowedforththeironintotheappropriatemould。Thebuzzofvoicesroseagain；
therewastimetospeak，andgasp，andwipethebrows；andthen，onebyone，themendispersedtosomeotherbranchoftheiremployment。No。B72pointedoutJemasthemanhehadseenengagedinascufflewithMrCarson，andthentheothertwosteppedforwardandarrestedhim，statingofwhathewasaccused，andthegroundsoftheaccusation。Heofferednoresistance，thoughheseemedsurprised；butcallingafellow-workmantohim，hebrieflyrequestedhimtotellhismotherhehadgotinto。trouble，andcouldnotreturnhomeatpresent。Hedidnotwishhertohearmoreatfirst。SoMrsWilson’ssleepwasnextinterruptedinalmostanexactlysimilarwaytothelast，likearecuringnightmare。“Missis!missis!“someonecalledoutfrombelow。Againitwasaworkman，butthistimeablacker-lookingonethanbefore。“Whatdonyewant？“saidshe，peevishly。“Only，nothingbut——“stammeredtheman，akind-hearted，matter-of-factperson，withnoinvention，butagreatdealofsympathy。“Well，speakout，can’tye，andha’donewithit？““Jem’sintrouble，“saidhe，repeatingJem’sverywords，ashecouldthinkofnoothers。“Trouble？“saidthemother，inahigh-pitchedvoiceofdistress。“Trouble!
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