The kitchen in the now abandoned farmhouse of John Wright, a gloomy kitchen, and left without having been put in order—unwashed pans under the sink a loaf of bread outside the bread-box, a dish-towel on the table—other signs of incompleated work at the rear the outer door opens and the Shiriff and Hale are in middle life, the County Attorney is a young man; all are much bundled up and go at once to the stove. They are follow by the two women—the Shiriff’s wife first; she is a slight wiry women comfortable looking, but she is disturbed now and look fearfully about as she entres. The women have come in slowly, and stand close together near the door