"She's dead," Peewee offered hopefully. This appearance of hopefulness concealed an immense anxiety. Beman had not known who Peewee was on the day before; now he knew more about him than Mrs. Markyn did.
"I know she's dead," Beman retorted. "You there when she died?"
"Yes, sir." He had no idea how much Beman knew, and he was afraid to lie.
"Anybody else there?"
"The nurse."
"No one else?"
"No, sir."
"Anybody come there while you were there?"
"No, sir."
"Not a tall men; blue eyes—very blue, like yours; black hair like yours?"
"No, sir." His heart constricted anxiously. Beman, it appeared, knew who his father was.
"Sure about that?"
"Yes, sir."
"Mother did not tell you about any man?"
"No, sir," Peewee lied desperately. Whatever else Beman might know, he could not
