noon
Suspicion had been aroused by a very simple incident . Mary Clough had noticed that a stone jar , which had stood in one of the windows of the mill ever since it had been closed , was removed . In that listless way which apparently trivial things have of arresting the attention , this jar had attracted Mary until it had become a part of the closed mill to her . It was in its usual place when she looked out in the morning ; at noon it had disappeared . Some one , then , was in the mill . A strong conviction took possession of her . She watched as the sparrow-hawk watches its prey .