But Tessibel's gesture, both hands raised, palms outward, expressed her dissent.
"They said as how Daddy were a murderer, too," she retorted, "but you found out he weren't, didn't ye?"
Young, not able to gainsay this, nodded his head.
"How long are you going to keep him here?" he asked presently.
Tess sent him a glance pathetically sad and discouraged.
"I don't know. The poor little duffer hain't no friends. He ain't no other place to go where old Eb won't git 'im."
Young thought of his brother-in-law. He realized immediately with what joy that stern disciplinarian would snatch the little man back into Auburn prison. Doubtless, too, he would visit his rage on the girl who'd shielded him.
"Ye helped Daddy git out o' jail," Tess whispered. "Couldn't ye keep Andy out?"
Deforrest Young turned his face to the ceiling. A pair of gleaming eyes were staring down upon him from the square hole.
"Come down here, you," he said peremptorily.