"Dr. McAlister, do you think I did anything to your horse?"
"Who else?"
"I don't know, and I don't care," the boy returned recklessly. Then, with an effort, he regained his self-control. "Dr. McAlister," he said, and his true, honest blue eyes met the doctor's eyes steadily; "Dr. McAlister, on my honor, I have not been near Vigil, nor done anything to hurt her. That is all I can say about it."
There was a silence, long and tense. Then, as the doctor made no sign, Billy turned away and went out of the office.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The doctor was attempting to argue with Theodora.
"But, Teddy, who else can have done it? Nobody else had been to the barn."
"How do you know?"
"Because the only way to get in was through the front door. Phebe and Isabel were in plain sight of that, all the morning, and they saw no one but Billy go there."