"Yes, I thought I'd come with the crowd and see the fun," Tom answered, indifferently, as he walked away by himself.
Tom had said very little on the train, or after he reached the hotel, but no one had listened with more eagerness to every detail of the matter than he had done, and all that morning he was busy gathering up every item of information, and listening to the guesses as to who the person could be who gave the diamonds to Harold.
The jewels had been identified by his father and by himself, although an identification was scarcely necessary as Harold had distinctly said:
"They are the Tracy diamonds; the person who gave them to me said so."
But who was the person? That was the question puzzling the heads of all the Shannondale people as the morning wore on, and each went where he liked. At last, toward noon, Tom found himself near Harold in front of the court-house, and going up to him, said:
"Hal, I want to talk to you a little while."
"Yes," Hal said, and selecting a retired corner, Tom began:
"Hal, I've never shown any great liking for you, and I don't s'pose I have any, but I don't like to see a man kicked for nothing, and so I came over with the rest."
"Thank you, Tom," Harold replied, "I don't think you ever did like me, and I don't think I cared if you didn't, but I'm glad you came. Is that all you wished to say to me?"
"No," Tom answered. "Jerrie is very sick—"