human
I know who killed John Barkley, she insisted.
gpt
I know how and when and why he was killed. Please tell me the truth. I want to know. Why did you confess to a crime which you did not commit?
human
I may be mad, he said.
gpt
It is possible for any human being to be mad and not know it. That's the funny part about insanity. But if I'm not insane, I killed Barkley; if I didn't kill him, I must be insane, for I'm very well convinced that I did. Either that, or you are insane. I have my suspicions that you are. Would a sane person wear pumps with heels like those up here?
human
You are a brave man, she said.
gpt
You are splendid. I hate men. But I think if you lived very long, I should love you. I will believe that you killed Barkley. You compel me to believe it. You confessed, when you found you were going to die, that an innocent man might be saved. Wasn't that it?
human
That's it. I hate to think of it that way, but I guess it's true. I confessed because I knew I was going to die. Otherwise I am quite sure that I should have let the other fellow take my medicine for me. You must think I am a beast.
gpt
All men are beasts, she agreed quickly.
human
But you are--a different kind of beast. I like you. If there were a chance, I might fight for you. I can fight.
gpt
But not with those, he exclaimed.
human
I think you would fight with your eyes. O'Connor told me they half killed Kedsty when you met them in the poplar grove yesterday.
gpt
O'Connor was the big, red-faced man with Mr. Kedsty?
human
Yes, my trail partner. He came to me yesterday and raved about your eyes. They ARE beautiful; I've never seen eyes half so lovely. But that wasn't what struck Bucky so hard. It was the effect they had on Kedsty. He said they shattered every nerve in Kedsty's body, and Kedsty isn't the sort to get easily frightened. And the queer part of it was that the instant you had gone, he gave O'Connor an order to free McTrigger--and then turned and followed you. All the rest of that day O'Connor tried to discover something about you at the Landing. He couldn't find hide nor hair--I beg pardon!--I mean he couldn't find out anything about you at all. We made up our minds that for some reason or other you were hiding up at Kedsty's bungalow. You don't mind a fellow saying all this--when he is going to pop off soon--do you?