“Thank’ee,” said Will, “I will sit down, if you don’t mind. I’m kind of tired and fagged out.”
“How did you leave mother and Susan?” said Tom, after a moment or two of silence had passed.
“Oh, pretty well. Of course, your mother is very troubled at what has occurred, but, on the whole, she bears it better than I could have hoped for. She believes that you’re innocent.”
“She’s right.”
Will heaved a sigh. “I hope she is,” said he.
“Thank’ee,” said Tom, a little grimly, and then the talk lapsed between them again.
“Tom,” said Will, breaking the silence, “your father has engaged me to act as your attorney in this matter. The Lord knows, I wish I had more experience. I haven’t always worked as hard as I might have done, and now, when it has fallen to my lot to have to defend the brother of the girl that I hope to marry from a charge of murder, it seems likely that I’ll have to pay a bitter price for all the time that I have wasted. However, I’ll go to Philadelphia to-morrow and see Mr. Fargio, and get him to take up your case. I’ve come to talk over the matter with you, Tom.”
“Wait a minute, Will. I have a question to ask you, first. Do you believe me guilty?”
Will Gaines looked fixedly out of the window of the cell, but he did not answer. Tom smiled a little sadly.
“I think I know how you feel about it, without the asking, Will,” said he. “Now, do you think that I’d have a man defend me who didn’t believe that I was innocent?”