“I am very sorry.”
“You did all you could, Nelson,” responded his companion. “Here comes some one. We will question him a little.”
A farm laborer with a hoe across his shoulder sauntered down the road. Andy hailed him. As he came nearer to them Mr. Webb said:
“My man, what has been happening around here?”
“Don’t you see?” queried the man, with a comprehensive wave of his hand across the bleak ruins. “Fire.”
“This is the Collins farm, isn’t it?”
“It was,” answered the man. “The fire took them in the night a week ago.”
“And burned everything about the place?”
“Down to the pig styes.”
“Where are the Collins people?”