They've
taken him up on charge of murder. It were his gun as were found
near th' place; and one o' the police heard him quarrelling with Mr.
Carson a few days back, about a girl."
"About a girl!" broke in the mother, once more indignant, though too
feeble to show it as before. "My Jem was as steady as"--she
hesitated for a comparison wherewith to finish, and then repeated,
"as steady as Lucifer, and he were an angel, you know. My Jem was
not one to quarrel about a girl."
"Ay, but it was that, though. They'd got her name quite pat. The
man had heard all they said. Mary Barton was her name, whoever she
may be."
"Mary Barton! the dirty hussy! to bring my Jem into trouble of this
kind. I'll give it her well when I see her: that I will. Oh! my
poor Jem!" rocking herself to and fro. "And what about the gun?
What did ye say about that?"
"His gun were found on th' spot where the murder were done."
"That's a lie for one, then. A man has got the gun now, safe and
sound. I saw it not an hour ago."
The man shook his head.
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