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〃He has begun by telling me who it was that put gunpowder into my forge； and how it was done。 I have forgiven him。 He was only the tool of much worse villains； base； cowardly； sneaking villains。 Those I shall not forgive。 Oh； I shall know all about it before long。 Good…morning。〃
This information and threat； and the vindictive bitterness and resolution with which the young man had delivered it； struck terror into the gentle Parkin； and shook even Grotait。 The latter； however； soon recovered himself； and it became a battle for life or death between him and Little。
He invited Parkin to his own place； and there the pair sat closeted。
Dan Tucker and Sam Cole were sent for。
Tucker came first。 He was instantly dispatched to Simmons； with money from the Saw Grinders' box。 He was to ascertain how much Simmons had let out； and to adjure him to be true to the Trade； and split on no man but himself。 When he had been gone about twenty minutes； Sam Cole came in； and was instructed to get two other men in place of Simmons； and be in readiness to do Little。
By…and…by Tucker returned with news。 Simmons had at present split only on himself； but the women were evidently in love with Little； said he was their only friend； and he； Tucker； foresaw that； with their co…operation； Simmons would be turned inside out by Little before he died。
Grotait struck his hand on the table。 〃The Unions are in danger；〃 said he。 〃There is but one way； Little must be made so that he can't leave Cairnhope while Simmons is alive。〃
So important did the crisis appear to him； that he insisted on Parkin going with him at once to Cairnhope； to reconnoiter the ground。
Parkin had a gig and a fast horse： so； in ten minutes more； they were on the road。
They reached Cairnhope； put up at the village inn； and soon extracted some particulars about the church。 They went up to it； and examined it； and Grotait gave Parkin a leg up； to peer through the window。
In this position they were nailed by old George。
〃What be you at？〃
〃What is that to you？〃 said Grotait。
〃It is plenty。 You mustn't come trespassing here。 Squire won't have it。〃
〃Trespassing in a churchyard！ Why it belongs to all the world。〃
〃Nay； this one belongs to the Lord o' the manor。〃
〃Well； we won't hurt your church。 Who keeps the key？〃
〃Squire Raby。〃
Old George from this moment followed them about everywhere； grumbling at their heels； like a mastiff。
Grotait； however； treated him with cool contempt； and proceeded to make a sketch of the door； and a little map showing how the church could be approached from Hillsborough on foot without passing through Cairnhope village。 This done； he went back with Parkin to the inn； and thence to Hillsborough。
It was old Christmas Eve。 Henry was working at his forge； little dreaming of danger。 Yet it was close at hand； and from two distinct quarters。
Four men； with crape masks； and provided with all manner of tools； and armed with bludgeons； were creeping about the churchyard； examining and listening。 Their orders were to make Little so that he should not leave Cairnhope for a month。 And that； in plain English； meant to beat him within an inch of his life； if not kill him。
At the same time； a body of nine men were stealing up the road； with designs scarcely less hostile to Little。
These assailants were as yet at a considerable distance； but more formidable in appearance than the others being most of them armed with swords； and led by a man with a double…barreled gun。
Grotait's men； having well surveyed the ground； now crept softly up to the porch； and examined the lock。
The key was inside； and they saw no means of forcing the lock without making a noise； and putting their victim on his guard。
After a long whispered consultation； they resolved to unscrew the hinges。
These hinges were of great length； and were nailed upon the door； but screwed into the door…post with four screws each。
Two men； with excellent tools； and masters of the business； went softly to work。 One stood； and worked on the upper screws； the other kneeled； and unfastened the lower screws。
They made no more noise than a rat gnawing； yet； such was their caution； and determination to surprise their victim； that they timed all their work by Little's。 Whenever the blows of his hammer intermitted； they left off； and began again when he did。
When all the screws were out but two； one above； one below； they beckoned the other two men； and these two drove large gimlets into the door； and so held it that it might not fall forward when the last screw should come out。
〃Are all screws out？〃 whispered Cole； who was the leader。
〃Ay；〃 was the whispered reply。
〃Then put in two more gimlets。〃
That was done。
〃Now； men；〃 whispered Cole。 〃Lay the door softly down outside： then； up sticksinto churchand DO HIM！〃
CHAPTER XIII。
If Mr。 Coventry； before he set all this mischief moving； could have seen the INSIDE of Grace Carden's letter to Henry Little！
〃DEAR MR。 LITTLE；I do not know whether I ought to write to you at all； nor whether it is delicate of me to say what I am going； but you have saved my life； and I do so want to do all I can to atone for the pain I have given you； who have been so good to me。 I am afraid you will never know happiness； if you waste your invaluable life longing after what is impossible。 There is an impassable barrier between you and me。 But you might be happy if you would condescend to take my advice； and let yourself see the beauty and the goodness of another。 The person who bears this letter comes nearer to perfection than any other woman I ever saw。 If you would trust my judgment （and； believe me； I am not to be mistaken in one of my own sex）； if you could turn your heart toward her； she would make you very happy。 I am sure she could love you devotedly； if she only heard those words from your lips； which every woman requires to hear before she surrenders her affections。 Pray do not be angry with me； pray do not think it cost me little to give this strange but honest advice to one I admire so。 But I feel it would be so weak and selfish in me to cling to that； which； sooner or later； I must resign； and to make so many persons unhappy； when all might be happy； except perhaps myself。
〃Once more； forgive me。 Do not think me blind； do not think me heartless； but say； this is a poor girl； who is sadly perplexed； and is trying very hard to be good and wise； and not selfish。
〃One line； to say you will consider my advice； and never hate nor despise your grateful and unhappy friend。
〃GRACE CARDEN。〃
When she had dispatched this letter； she felt heroic。
The next day； she wished she had not written it； and awaited the reply with anxiety。
The next day； she began to wonder at Little's silence： and by…and…by she was offended at it。 Surely what she had written with so great an effort was worth a reply。
Finally； she got it into her head that Little despised her。 Upon this she was angry with him for not seeing what a sacrifice she had made； and for despising her； instead of admiring her a little； and pitying her ever so much。 The old story in shorta girl vexed with