“I have a great mind to sail for Europe,” he said, after making the facts known.
“And why?”
“Because I’ll never be safe as long as I’m on this side of the Atlantic; my attack on Dick Halliard will send me to prison for twenty years.”
The frightened Bob now gave Jim a truthful account of his stopping young Halliard on the highway and shooting at him.
“Have you told your uncle and aunt that you are here?” asked McGovern, without referring to the incident, which, of course, he heard for the first time.
“Gracious, no!” replied the startled Bob; “I wouldn’t do it for the world.”
“Don’t you think you can trust them?”
“I know they would do anything for me, but it is too risky; they would be sure to drop some hint that would let the cat out of the bag.”
“You needn’t be afraid of that; haven’t you reflected, Bob, how distressed they are over your supposed death?”
“Yes, that is so, but I don’t know how it can be helped; you see how I am fixed.”