Mother Borton paid no attention to my question, and continued:
"I knowed they was a-talking about you, an' they says they would cut
your liver out if they found ye there."
"And where is there?" I asked with growing interest.
"That's what I was listening to find out," said Mother Borton. "I
couldn't hear much of what they says, but I hears enough to git an
idee."
"Well?" I said inquiringly as she hesitated.
She bent forward and hissed rather than whispered:
"They've found out where the boy is!"
"Are you certain?" I asked in sudden alarm.
"Pretty sure," she said, "pretty sure. Now you won't go near the place,
will ye, dearie?" she continued anxiously.
"You forget that I haven't the first idea where the boy is hidden," I
returned.
"Oh, Lord, yes! I reckon my mind's going," grunted Mother Borton. "But
I'm afeard of their knives for ye."
"I wish I could give warning," said I, much disturbed by the
information. "The protector of the boy ought to know about this. I'm
afraid I have done wrong."
Mother Borton looked at me fixedly.
"Don't you worry, my dear. She'll know about it all right."
Again the feeling stole over me that this woman knew more than she
told. But I knew that it was useless to question her directly. I
considered a moment, and then decided to trust her with a secret which
might surprise her into admitting her knowledge.
"I suspect that she knows already. I got a note to-night," said I,
drawing from my pocket the envelope I had received from the Unknown.
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