439ページ中401ページ

She looked up in surprise. "They were?" A little smile began to

dimple the corners of her mouth. "That's funny, because they had

just got through forgiving me for what I told you."

"What they told me was how the shooting occurred."

"I don't know anything about that. When I told you their names I

was only telling what I had heard people whisper. That's all I

knew."

"You've been troubled because your friends were in this, haven't

you? You hated to think it of them, didn't you?" he asked.

"Yes. It has troubled me a lot."

"Don't let it trouble you any more. One man was responsible for

all the bloodshed. He went mad and saw red for half a minute.

Before the rest could stop him, the slaughter was done. The other

boys aren't guilty of that, any more than you or I."

"Oh, I'm glad--I'm glad," she cried softly. Then, looking up

quickly to him: "Who was the man?" she asked.

"I don't know. It is better that neither of us should know that."

"I'm glad the boys told you. It shows they trust you."