"Well, he was true to his word, and something more. He took Shorty with him."
"Took Shorty with him? Major, how horrible! Don't tell me he killed him!"
The Major took the paper from her and read the whole account aloud. She sat there deathly pale and listened.
"Poor, poor Jabez," she repeated when he had finished, "may God forgive him!"
Then she started, as there came back to her mind the letter she had received from him the night before. It was in her pocket now.
"But, Major," she said, producing it, "I got this from the poor boy last night; it is inexplicable now!"
The Major read.
"I don't know that it is inexplicable," he said, "but of course it is impossible to act upon it."
"Why?"
"For two reasons. First because the boy Shorty is drowned, and consequently his evidence could not be forthcoming, even if it were worth anything, which it probably wasn't; and secondly, Miriam, because, terrible as this is, for you to attempt to clear your brother would only be to make it worse for ourselves. Let it die; let him and the whole affair remain in oblivion. As it is it will soon be forgotten."