“I’ll eat here too, if you don’t mind,” said Mr. Brown.
Ben was relieved to see that, despite the faint discoloration around the other’s eyes, the expression of the eyes was friendly.
“You gave me a good one, Ben,” said the arm of the law, speaking between spoonfuls of soup. “I’ve been thinkin’ it over ever since and the more I think on it the clearer I see why you did it. I was danged mad for a spell, but I ain’t mad now. Yer a smart lad, Ben, if you’ll excuse me for sayin’ so; and jist pig-headed enough to be steady and dependable, if you don’t mind me expressin’ it that way.”
“It is very kind of you to think so,” replied Ben.
“Oh, I’m like that. No meanness in Dave Brown. If he’s wrong he’s willin’ to admit it once he’s been shown it—that’s me! I guess you were right that time in yer barn, Ben. I know darn well that you acted as if right was on yer side, anyhow.”
Ben looked him steadily but politely in the eye for several seconds, then leaned forward halfway across the narrow table.
“I came down to-day to tell something important to Judge Smith and perhaps to ask his advice about it, but I think I’ll tell it to you instead,” he said in guarded tones.
The deputy sheriff’s eyes brightened and he too leaned forward.
“Something about French River?” he whispered.
“You’ve guessed it, Mr. Brown. Uncle Jim and I went up there and saw old Noel Sabattis and heard all he had to tell. Among other things, we heard about that stranger Noel saw once a few days before Louis Balenger showed up again.”