Which of us might be a murderer
and which a detective? I ask you.
"And as for yourself. I find you here in the depths of
the wood digging a lonely grave for a human corpse.
I ask myself: was this man murdered? but I do not say
that he was murdered. I wait for an explanation from
you, for you do not look a murderer, though I cannot
say as much for your desperate companion."
The girl looked straight into Bridge's eyes for a full
minute before she replied as though endeavoring to
read his inmost soul.
"I do not know this boy," she said. "That is the truth.
He was spying on me, and when I found him he told
me that you and your companions were thieves and
murderers and that you were hiding there watching me.
You tell me the truth, all the truth, and I will tell you
the truth. I have nothing to fear. If you do not tell me
the truth I shall know it. Will you?"
"I will," replied Bridge, and then turning toward the
brush he called: "Come here!" and presently a boy and a
girl, dishevelled and fearful, crawled forth into sight.
Willie Case's eyes went wide as they fell upon the
Oskaloosa Kid.
Quickly and simply Bridge told the girl the story of
the past night, for he saw that by enlisting her sym-
pathy he might find an avenue of escape for his com-
panions, or at least a haven of refuge where they might
hide until escape was possible.
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