“Do what?” Absalom’s tone was plainly bewildered.
“Set fire to your father’s cotton storehouse.”
“Whee-e-e-e-e!” Absalom’s whistle of astonishment was clearly genuine. “I should say not!”
“Do you know who did?” asked Justice, watching him keenly.
“Did somebody?” asked Absalom innocently.
“I should say they did,” said Justice, puzzled in his turn. “Are you sure you don’t know anything about it?”
Absalom shook his head vigorously. “I don’t know anything about it,” he said straightforwardly.
“I was sure you didn’t do it,” I said triumphantly. “I had a feeling in my bones.”
“How does it happen that you weren’t at the fire?” asked Justice wonderingly. “You must have seen the glare in the sky. People came for miles around. Didn’t you see it?”
Absalom shook his head. “I must a slept through it,” he said simply, and followed it with such a large sigh of regret for what he had missed that Justice and I both had to smile.