"Uncle Hiram's gone back home to get his wife and to get word to the kin over around Millers Crossing."
"What about Ophelia's young'uns?"
"Most of them are at the schoolhouse. Uncle Hiram came the day before yesterday to take Miss Dink back to his house, but she was too bad off. So, he took the older young'uns home with him. I guess he figured it would help Ophelia. This morning he brought them back, straight to the schoolhouse. Then he came on over here."
"How'd he know where to look for Ward?"
"He didn't. He said when he first got here Ophelia told him Ward sneaked home Sunday but didn't stay long."
"But, Jodie, she vowed she hadn't seen him!"
"Well, anyhow, Uncle Hiram went down to the barn to feed the mules and to milk the cow. But the cow got out of the pen and was already way down the lane. He went to drive her back up, and that's when he saw Ward slumped down by the fence."
Papa pushed open the back door. There was nobody in the kitchen, and we didn't hear any sounds coming from the other part of the house.
"Nannie, some of the men seem to think Ward might've shot himself on purpose. And I wouldn't put it past him. He was a crazy, curious man. But, I oughtn't to criticize the dead."
"I'm wondering about Ward's automobile. When do you guess he—"