human
Is that the tavern, Mister?
gpt
Yes, replied Barry, needlessly pointing down the street.
human
Well?
gpt
It's her, said the stranger.
human
I had a good look at her 'long about five o'clock from the woods across from her house. She's a heap sight older but I knowed her all right.
gpt
You are sure?
human
Sure as my name is--
gpt
Sh!
human
Course I'm sure. She was Owen Carter's widder. He was killt by a tree fallin' on him. Oh, I got a good memory. I can't afford to have a bad one. I remember her as plain as if it wuz yestiday. He pointed off in a westerly direction for the benefit of a passerby.
gpt
Thank ye, mister. You say it's not more'n six mile out yan way? Lowering his voice, he went on:
human
A feller wouldn't be likely to fergit a woman like her. Gosh, I used to wish--but wishin' don't count fer much in this world.
gpt
Get on with it. We can't stand here talking all night.
human
Well, she's the woman that run off with Bob Gwynne. There ain't no doubt about it. Everybody knowed it. I wuz there at the time, workin' fer Ed Peters. He left his wife an' a little boy. His wife was a daughter of ole Squire Blythe,--damn his heart! He had me hoss-whipped in public fer--well, fer some triflin' thing I done. Seems to me Mrs. Carter had a little baby girl. Maybe not. I ain't much of a hand fer noticin' babies.
gpt
You are sure,--absolutely positive about all this?
human
You bet yer boots I am.
gpt
She ran off with a married man?
human
She did. A feller by the name o' Gwynne, as I said afore,--Bob Gwynne. An' I want to tell you, he got out o' that town jest in time or I'd have slit his gizzard fer him. He had me arrested fer stealin' a saddle an' bridle. He never WOULD have got away ef I hadn't been locked up in Jim Hatcher's smokehouse with two men settin' outside with guns fer a solid month, keepin' watch on me day an' night. I wuz--
gpt
That's all for to-night, snapped Barry impatiently.
human
You get out of town at once. Mart will be waiting for you down below Granny Neff's cabin,--this side of the tanyard,--as arranged.
gpt
What about that other business? Mart'll want to know when we're to--
human
He knows. The Paul Revere goes south day after to-morrow morning. If the plans are changed before that time, I'll get word to him. It may not be necessary to do anything at all. You've given me information that may bring the old woman to her senses.
gpt
Them two fellers that come up on the boat to-day. Air you sure you c'n--
human
That's all for to-night,