"Better save that until after the trial."
"But--"
"Save your worries, too."
"Then you can help him?"
"We'll figure out something. Who did shoot this Delbert?"
"I wish I knew."
"So do I."
Ted said uneasily, "I haven't any money right now, but I'll have at
least two hundred and fifty-five dollars, and perhaps a great deal more,
right after deer season."
John McLean murmured, "It'll help. The price of justice is too often too
blasted high."
"Do--Do you want to talk with Dad soon?"
"Where is he?"
"Laying out in the Mahela."
"The Mahela's a big place."
Ted said honestly, "I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him since
he left but--I could get a message to him."
"I won't ask you how. Does your dad mind laying out?"
"No."
"Then leave him until the time's right. It would have been better if
he'd given himself up right away; but staying out now will do more good
than harm. People, even prosecuting attorneys, can forget quite a bit in
a short time."
"Is there anything else?"
"When he comes in, or when you bring him in, I want to be the first to
talk with him. Can you arrange that?"
"I'm sure I can."
* * * * *
That night, back at the Harkness house, Ted took Tammie's harness from
the closet and emptied it of junk. He replaced the junk with an equal
weight of food, added a handful of matches, thrust a pad of paper and a
pencil into one of the pockets and strapped the harness on Tammie. Ted
took his dog to the back door and let him into the darkness.
"Take it to Al," he ordered. "Go to Al, Tammie."
Tammie, who hadn't been able to see any sense in the pack but who saw
it now, raised his drooping ears and wagged his tail. He raced away in
the darkness. Ted had scarcely closed the back door when there was an
imperative knock at the front.
He opened it to admit Jack Callahan.
7