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Chapter 26
Itwasasthoughtheywereafraidsomethingmighthappeninthesplitsecondofdarkness.Tomsaid,«Well—thisfellathatdoneit,heon’ydoneitaftertheykilledCasy.»
Painterrupted,«Thatain’tthewaythey’retellin’itnow.They’resayin’hedoneitfust.»
Tom’sbreathsighedout,«Ah-h!»
«They’reworkin’upafeelin’againstusfolks.That’swhatIheard.
Allthemdrum-corpsefellasan’lodgesan’allthat.Saythey’regonnagetthisherefella.»
«Theyknowwhathelookslike?»Tomasked.
«Well—notexactly—butthewayIheardit,theythinkhegothit.Theythink—he’llhave—"
Tomputhishandupslowlyandtouchedhisbruisedcheek.
Macried,«Itain’tso,whattheysay!»
«Easy,Ma,"Tomsaid.«Theygotitcold.Anythingthemdrum-corpsefellassayisrightifit’sagainstus.»Mapeeredthroughtheilllight,andshewatchedTom’sface,andparticularlyhislips.«Youpromised,"shesaid.
«Ma,I—maybethisfellaoughtagoaway.If—thisfelladonesomepinwrong,maybehe’dthink,’O.K.Le’sgetthehangin’over.Idonewrongan’Igottotakeit.’Butthisfelladidn’donothin’wrong.Hedon’feelnoworse’nifhekilledaskunk.»
Ruthiebrokein,«Ma,mean’Winfiel’knows.Hedon’havetogothis-fella’in’forus.»
Tomchuckled.«Well,thisfelladon’wantnohangin’,’causehe’ddoitagain.An’sametime,hedon’taimtobringtroubledownonhisfolks.Ma—Igottogo.»
Macoveredhermouthwithherfingersandcoughedtoclearherthroat.
