His listener seemed to sense the situation clearly.
"It wasn't no mistake, your goin' out there, sir," he said, confidently.
"What we know now gives us something to work on anyhow, an' it's just what I thought--that trip Sunday led up to this killin', an' something happened while they was in there to stir Miss Natalie all up.

Now we got to find this fellow--what did you say his name was, sir ?" "Hobart--Jim Hobart; that is he was known by that name there." "And you say he has simply dropped out o' sight ?" "That's true; never left a clue behind him." "Well, sir, I'm not quite so sure about that.

You listen to me, sir.

I walked out to Fairlawn from the car-line, an' come in across the fields to the house.

I didn't have no good excuse for goin' back there, sir, an' was sorter afraid to meet up with Miss Natalie.