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           "Scoutiseightyearsold,"hesaid."Shewastooscaredtoknowexactlywhatwenton."

           "You’dbesurprised,"Atticussaidgrimly.

           "I’mnotsayin’shemadeitup,I’msayin’shewastooscaredtoknowexactlywhathappened.Itwasmightydarkoutthere,blackasink.‘dtakesomebodymightyusedtothedarktomakeacompetentwitness..."

           "Iwon’thaveit,"Atticussaidsoftly.

           "Goddamnit,I’mnotthinkingofJem!"

           Mr.Tate’sboothitthefloorboardssohardthelightsinMissMaudie’sbedroomwenton.MissStephanieCrawford’slightswenton.AtticusandMr.Tatelookedacrossthestreet,thenateachother.Theywaited.

           WhenMr.Tatespokeagainhisvoicewasbarelyaudible."Mr.Finch,Ihatetofightyouwhenyou’relikethis.You’vebeenunderastraintonightnomanshouldeverhavetogothrough.Whyyouain’tinthebedfromitIdon’tknow,butIdoknowthatforonceyouhaven’tbeenabletoputtwoandtwotogether,andwe’vegottosettlethistonightbecausetomorrow’llbetoolate.BobEwell’sgotakitchenknifeinhiscraw."

           Mr.TateaddedthatAtticuswasn’tgoingtostandthereandmaintainthatanyboyJem’ssizewithabustedarmhadfightenoughleftinhimtotackleandkillagrownmaninthepitchdark.

           "Heck,"saidAtticusabruptly,"thatwasaswitchbladeyouwerewaving.Where’dyougetit?"

           "Tookitoffadrunkman,"Mr.Tateansweredcoolly.

           Iwastryingtoremember.Mr.Ewellwasonme...thenhewentdown....Jemmusthavegottenup.AtleastIthought...