[MARY comes downstairs slowly. She is all atremble.]
THADDEUS. Say, Mary, you was h——
SERGEANT. You keep still, man. I'll question her myself. [To MARY.] You were here at the house all day?
[MARY is very fearful and embarrassed, but after a moment manages to nod her head slowly.] You didn't take a trip down to the store? [MARY shakes her head slowly.] Haven't you got a tongue?
MARY [with difficulty]. Y-e-s.
SERGEANT. Then use it. The Northern soldier who came here a while ago was pretty badly wounded, wasn't he?
MARY. I—I—no one's been here.
SERGEANT. Come, come, woman, don't lie. [MARY shows a slight sign of anger.] He had a bad cut in his forehead, and you felt sorry for him, and gave him a bite to eat.
MARY [haltingly]. No one's been near the house to-day.
SERGEANT [trying a different tone]. We're not going to hurt him, woman. He's a friend of ours. We want to find him, and put him in a hospital, don't we, Dick? [Turning to his companion.]