"A grave."
The man glanced about again.
"For some pet?"
The boy shook his head.
"No—sir," the latter word coming as an after-thought. His mother had taught him that title of respect.
Rankin changed the line of interrogation.
"Where's Tom Blair, young man?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Your mother, then, where is she?"
"My mother is dead."