He rose up again, however, as Jem went on, anxious to give every
particular which could satisfy the bereaved father.
"I never knew for what he wanted the gun till I was taken up,--I do
not know yet why he wanted it. No one would have had me get out of
the scrape by implicating an old friend,--my father's old friend,
and the father of the girl I loved. So I refused to tell Mr.
Bridgnorth aught about it, and would not have named it now to any
one but you."
Jem's face became very red at the allusion he made to Mary, but his
honest, fearless eyes had met Mr. Carson's penetrating gaze
unflinchingly, and had carried conviction of his innocence and
truthfulness. Mr. Carson felt certain that he had heard all that
Jem could tell. Accordingly he turned to Job Legh.
"You were in the room the whole time while Barton was speaking to
me, I think?"
"Yes, sir," answered Job.
"You'll excuse my asking plain and direct questions; the information
I am gaining is really a relief to my mind, I don't know how, but it
is,--will you tell me if you had any idea of Barton's guilt in this
matter before?"
"None whatever, so help me God!" said Job solemnly.
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