“Why, no, he ain't,” said the old Judge. “Set down, won't you, Henrietta? Hot day. No, Carter ain't home. He's gone on a trip. Out to Nevada or somewhere. Some sort of business Johnnie Alberson sent him off on. Wasn't nothing I'd do as well at, was it?”
It was not.
“Johnnie Alberson sent him?” exclaimed Henrietta.
“That's right,” said the Judge. “Looks sort of suspicious to me,” he added with a twinkle. “Ain't ever heard of Johnnie having a wife, have you? Nevada's where folks go to get rid of them entangling alliances, I've heard tell.”
Henrietta looked at him acutely.
“He didn't say why he was going? Carter did n't?” she asked.
“He might have, and then again he might n't have,” said the Judge. “No use pumpin' me, Henrietta. Us law folks can't be pumped.”
He waited and then asked:
“Heard from that Freeman Todder boarder of Miss Susan's lately?”
Henrietta studied the old man's face.