MY LADY OF THE SOUTH
able to find expression; then mouth and eyes hardened.
"I reckon maybe yer mean well," he said, "but yer don't understand."
"What don't I understand?"
"This yere affair. Why, Leftenant, we was both born ter a blood feud. Ye can't ever stop that till ther one or ther other is dead. Suppose I did go ter him, he'd shoot me down afore I could speak a word. Why not? By God, if he come ter me I'd do ther same. Besides, thet ain't all: I've hed houses burned afore," his voice choked, "but somethin' 's happened ter my wife an' the kids; I can't find hide ner hair of 'em."
"Surely you do not think they have been injured?—done away with?"
"It wouldn n't be ther first time sich a thing was done. Ther women fight as well as ther men in these mountings."
"Yes," I assented, remembering, "I have reason to believe it was a woman who committed the murders in this house."
[ 302 ]
