“When Isom was lying on the floor after he was shot,” said Joe.
A movement of feet was audible through the room. People looked at each other, incredulity in their eyes. The coroner 142 returned to the incidents which led up to the shooting snapping back to that phase of the inquiry suddenly, as if in the expectation of catching Joe off his guard.
“What did he threaten to kill you for?” he asked sharply.
“Well, Isom was an unreasonable and quick-tempered man,” Joe replied.
The coroner rose to his feet in a quick start, as if he intended to leap over the table. He pointed his finger at Joe, shaking his somber beard.
“What did Isom Chase catch you at when he came into that kitchen?” he asked accusingly.
“He saw me standing there, just about to blow out the light and go to bed,” said Joe.
“What did you and Isom quarrel about last night?”
Joe did not reply at once. He seemed debating with himself over the advisability of answering at all. Then he raised his slow eyes to the coroner’s face.
“That was between him and me,” said he.