I said, “A scout is supposed to help people in trouble, I don’t deny that. But we don’t know anything about the law. If the judge says we have to tell, I suppose we’ll have to tell. But, anyway, there’s one thing I want to ask you. I know you got caught doing some things—you know what I mean. And I know a lot of people think—but, anyway, I want to ask you this, and I’ll promise not to tell your answer. Did you set fire to the shop or didn’t you?”
He just looked straight at me and he said, “As sure as I’m sitting here in this old car I didn’t. Do you want me to swear? I took your flashlight——”
“I’m not thinking about that,” I told him. “That won’t keep me from believing you. I’m just asking you to tell me honest and true if you did or not.”
“As sure as I’m sitting here, I didn’t,” he said, good and loud.
“Then how do you think it started?” Westy asked him. “Do you think somebody did it?”
“Sure somebody did it,” he said. “Didn’t they find some match ends near the cotton waste that burned up?” he said.
“I didn’t know that,” I told him.
“But what good does that do me?” he wanted to know.
I said, “Well, we’ll help you out.”
“On the level?” he shouted. “You won’t say a word? You’ll be good scouts and keep your mouths shut?”