After a dubious pause, she spoke hesitantly, "I jest fell ter studyin' erbout hit. Ef I tells ye, ye mustn't never name ther matter—ter nobody."
"I gives ye my hand on thet."
"Wa'al, Mr. Brent told me afore he left, thet ef I ever needed counsel I should write ter him. When Jack went away, I writ—an' yestiddy I got an answer back. My letter ter Mr. Brent asked ther same question thet I jest put up ter you."
"What did Brent say?"
She was looking out of the car window with eyes that were serious and preoccupied.
"He said he knowed all erbout him—but thet a question like thet ought rightfully ter be put ter a man fust-handed. He bade me ask Jack myself when he come back—but he pledged hisself ter answer all my questions ef Jack should happen ter refuse, atter he'd hed one chanst."
The gray-blue eyes narrowed for a moment, then O'Keefe inquired, "Does hit makes any great differ whar a man was borned at?"
"Mebby not. I just fell ter wonderin'."
"Does ye want my fam'ly Bible ter look me up in?" demanded Jerry and the girl laughed.
But she did not tell Jerry what lay back of this whole discussion. She did not confide to him the mystery of a coat with a patched lining.