Page:War; or, What happens when one loves one's enemy, John Luther Long, 1913.djvu/209

MORE MYSTERY "Back to town," says they.

On the way one of them says:

"Why did you tell us your brother was at home?"

I was going to speak, and tell 'em they was out under the trees where they couldn't be found easy, but Jon stops me.

"Were you there?" he asks.

They don't answer.

"He's gone away, hasn't he?" they asks instead.

"My question to you remains unanswered," says Jon, as fighty now as me. "I'll ask you another. What do you want with my brother Dave?"

"You're talking to a Union soldier!" says one of 'em.

"You're talking to a Union officer!" says Jon, more savage than I ever heard him speak. "And, I may as well tell you that if you lay a hand on my brother you and this Union officer will have it out together. Let me look at you!" 193