“This is well, Sarah Burton—it is right, and what you ought to say. You think that the fire was accidental, and that the fractured skulls came from the fall of the plough?”
“I do. I know that the plough stood in the garret, directly over the bed, and the stove-pipe passed quite near it. There was an elbow in that pipe, and the danger was at that elbow.”
“This is well; and the eye above looks on you with less displeasure, Sarah Burton”—as this was said, the witness turned her looks timidly upwards, as if to assure herself of the fact—“Speak holy truth, and it will soon become benignant and forgiving. Now tell me how you came by the stocking and its contents?”
“The stocking!” said the witness, starting, and turning white as a sheet. “Who says I took the stocking?”
“I do. I know it by that secret intelligence which has been given me to discover truth. Speak, then, Sarah, and tell the court and jury the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
“Nobody saw me take it; and nobody can say I took it.”
“Therein you are mistaken. You were seen to take it. I saw it, for one; but there was another who saw it, with its motive, whose eye is ever on us. Speak, then, Sarah, and keep nothing back.”
“I meant no harm, if I did take it. There was so many folks about, I was afraid that some stranger might lay hands on it. That’s all.”
“You were seen to unlock the drawers, as you stood alone near the bureau, in the confusion and excitement of the finding of the skeletons. You did it stealthily, Sarah Burton.”
“I was afraid some one might snatch the stocking from me. I always meant to give it up, as soon as the law said to whom it belongs. Davis wants it, but I’m not sure it is his.”