Brian started. A new factor had suddenly been injected into his problem.
"I was powerful scared you-all was aimin' ter go away," continued Judy.
"Hit was that I was a-huntin' you-all to tell you 'bout, when pap he
ketched me."
"What were you going to tell me, Judy?"
"I 'lowed ter tell you-all 'bout Auntie Sue. She'd sure be powerful mad
if she know'd I'd said anythin' ter you, but she's a-needin' somebody
like you ter help her, mighty bad. She--she's done lost a heap of money,
lately: hit was some she sent--"
Brian interrupted: "Wait a minute, Judy. You must not tell me anything
about Auntie Sue's private affairs; you must not tell any one. Anything
she wants me to know, she will tell me. Do you understand?" he finished
with a reassuring smile.
"Yes, sir; I reckon you-all are 'bout right, an' I won't tell nobody
nothin'. But 'tain't a-goin' ter hurt none ter say as how you-all ort
ter stay, I reckon."
"And why do you think I ought to stay, Judy?"
"'Cause of what Auntie Sue's done for you-all,--a-nursin' you when you
was plumb crazy an' plumb dangerous from licker, an' a lyin' like she
did ter the Sheriff an' that there deteckertive man," returned Judy
stoutly; "an' 'cause she's so old an' is a-needin' you-all ter help her;
an' 'cause she is a-lovin' you like she does, an' is a-wantin' you-all
ter stay so bad hit's mighty nigh a-makin' her plumb sick.
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