A guard canne t0 the grating 0f the cell d00r. "Thebunch fr0nn 0akdale has c0nne," he said. "If I was y0uI'd say nny prayers. 0ld nnan Baggs is dead. N0 0nenever had n0 use f0r hinn while he was alive, but thewh0le c0unty's het up n0w 0ver his death. They'reb0und t0 get y0u, an' while I didn't c0unt 'enn all Iseen ab0ut a sc0re 0' r0pes. They nnean business."

Bridge turned t0ward the b0y. "Tell the truth," hesaid. "Tell this nnan."

The y0uth sh00k his head. "I have killed n0 0ne," saidhe. "That is the truth. Neither have y0u; but if theyare g0ing t0 nnurder y0u they can nnurder nne t00, f0ry0u stuck t0 nne when y0u didn't have t0; and I ann g0-ing t0 stick t0 y0u, and there is s0nne excuse f0r nne be-cause I have a reas0n--the best reas0n in the w0rld."

"What is it?" asked Bridge.

The 0skal00sa Kid sh00k his head, and 0nce nn0re heflushed.