Cross sat silent for some time; at length making another effort, he disclosed his purpose.
'The fact is, the old woman knows too much for our good. She likes you well enough; you know that I suppose, and she has good reason to do so; you can stop her tongue if you will.'
'I should like to know how.'
'How? Why, by marrying Hettie; she can't hurt us then, without hurting her own child, and she won't be likely to do that. You shall have money enough: the barrens are pretty much all ours now, or they will be when this matter is once quashed.'
'How so?'
'Why, Rutherford's deed for them is burned up, and there is no record of it, and mine covers it all.'
'But suppose I should tell you that Rutherford's deed is not burnt?'
'How do you know it ain't?' and Cross arose from his seat in great excitement.
'Bill Brown has told all about it; he laid on the truck-bed under the counter the night you and old Foster were here together.'
Dave looked at his father for the first time since the commencement of the interview. The dim light that came in through the open door just enabled him to see the ashy paleness that had over-spread his features.