He leaned back and crossed his legs. Then he reached into his coat pocket and produced his cigar case. He bent forward and offered it to Andy.
"Smoke, Andy?" he queried.
"Nope, thank ye, sir. Hain't smoked since Pal Skinner got sick. Couldn't smell up the shanty with a pipe, ye see, eh?"
When the cigar was glowing and the fragrant smoke drifted in eddying clouds through the kitchen, the smoker rocked a few minutes contemplatively.
"I've seen Owen Bennet," he began presently. "He sticks to the story that you did the shooting, Bishop, but I knew all the time he was lying."
"Yep, he lied," interpolated Andy, bobbing his head.
"But as long as he won't tell the truth," Young stated "you're liable to be taken back to Auburn."
The dwarf cringed as from a blow. Fear of going back to prison killed the joy in his face instantly, but the speaker's quick assurance straightened the bent shoulders.
"But no one knows where you are, and perhaps something can be done to bring a confession from Bennet. Just at this time, though," looking from the little man to the girl on the cot, "I'm more concerned about your futures."
Tess didn't speak. She knew wherein her confidence lay and was willing to await her friend's suggestion. She sat up, punched the pillow, turned it over, and lay down again.
"It's perfectly evident you can't stay here, either one of you," said Young, after a pause, "and if you'll be guided by me--"
"We'll do what ye want," murmured Tess, "if ye'll let us stay together an' keep the baby."
"Yes, that is my plan," he replied.
Andy folded his short legs under him nervously.
"We want to stay together, me an' Tess does," he echoed, "an' the baby's awful glad to live with us."
Young's lips curled an instant into a smile responsive to the quaint statement.
"You remember, Tess," he resumed, "I have a lease of the house where Graves used to live."
She answered only by a little forward bend of her head.
"My idea is this: I'll open the house, and you, Tess, can come there with the baby. You can keep house in a little way for us all."
"Ye said Andy could live with--"
"Wait," interrupted the lawyer. "There're two nice rooms on the top floor. You can arrange them for Bishop and he will be as snug as a bug in a rug."
A sharp cry of joy broke from the young mother. She sat up straight. She threw back the tangled curls, and leaning forward grasped the hand the speaker thrust out to support her.