“The ones that were used to set fire to the bridge, dear. Oh, it’s terrible to think of it. Poor, poor Pepsy. That is what is bringing lots and lots of people along our road to-day, Walter. Pepsy was found lying unconscious near the bridge. She had kerosene all over her. One charred rag was found over there. It just makes me—it makes me—”
Pee-wee arose and laid one hand on the back of the hair-cloth chair. He, too, was concerned now.
“You—you didn’t tell her—you didn’t blame—accuse her—did you?” he asked.
“No, I didn’t,” his aunt breathed worriedly. “I asked her to tell me all about last night and she would tell me nothing. She said that the planks on the bridge tormented her. To almost everything I asked her she said, ‘I won’t tell.’ She is very, very stubborn; she was always so.”
“Because, anyway,” Pee-wee said, alluding to his former query, “if anybody says she burned down the bridge on purpose it’s a lie. I don’t care who says it, it’s a lie. She’s—she’s my partner—and it’s a lie. If—even—if the minister says it, it’s a lie!”
“Listen, my dear boy,” said his aunt kindly. “I’m not angry with Pepsy, poor child. I’m not accusing her, and you mustn’t talk about the Rev. Mr. Gloomer telling lies. Pepsy tried to burn down the orphan home once, for some trifling grievance. We can’t take the responsibility of the poor child any longer. I’m afraid that any minute Beriah Bungel will want to take her—arrest her. I know she’s your partner, dear, but it would be better for us to send her back to the state home where she will probably be kept than to let her be arrested. I don’t think she knew what she was doing, poor, poor child—”
Aunt Jamsiah broke down completely, crying in her handkerchief. So Uncle Eb finished what little there was to say.
“We had to send fer ’em, Walter,” said he. “She’ll be better off there fer a spell, I reckon. I ain’t so sure about her doin’ it, though it looks bad. Leastways, she didn’t know what she was doing. But don’t you worry—”
Pee-wee did not wait to hear more. He just could not stand there.
“When—when are they—coming?” he asked.