Theshot，thefindingofthebody，thesubsequentdiscoveryofthegun，wererapidlydeposedto；andthenthepolicemanwhohadinterruptedthequarrelbetweenJemWilsonandthemurderedyoungmanwasbroughtforward，andgavehisevidence，clear，simple，andstraightforward。Thecoronerhadnohesitation，thejuryhadnone，buttheverdictwascautiouslyworded。
“Wilfulmurderagainstsomepersonunknown。“Thisverycautiousness，whenbedeemedthethingsosureastorequirenocaution，irritatedMrCarson。Itdidnotsoothehimthatthesuperintendentcalledtheverdictamereform，——exhibitedawarrantem-poweringhimtoseizethebodyofJemWilson，committedonsuspicion，——declaredhisintentionofemployingawellknownofficerintheDetectiveServicetoascertaintheownershipofthegun，andtocollectotherevidenceespeciallyasregardedtheyoungwoman，aboutwhomthepolicemandeposedthatthequarrelhadtakenp]ace；MrCarsonwasstillexcitedandirritable；restlessinbodyandmind。HemadeeverypreparationfortheaccusationofJemthefollowingmorningbeforethemagistratesheengagedattorneysskilledincriminalpracticetowatchthecaseandpreparebriefs；hewrotetocelebratedbarristerscomingtheNortherncircuit，tobespeaktheirservices。Aspeedyconviction，aspeedyexecution，seemedtobetheonlythingsthatwouldsatisfyhiscravingthirstforblood。Hewouldhavefainbeenpoliceman，magistrate，accusingspeaker，all；butmostofall，thejudge，risingwithfullsentenceofdeathonhislips。Thatafternoon，asJaneWilsonhadbeguntofeeltheeffectofanight’sdisturbedrest，evincedinfrequentdroppingsofftosleepwhileshesatbyhersister-in-law’sbed-side，lulledbytheincessantcrooningoftheinvalid’sfeeblevoice，shewasstartledbyamanspeakinginthehouse-placebelow，who，weariedofknockingatthedoor，withoutobtaininganyanswer，hadenteredandwascallinglustilyfor“Missis!Missis!“WhenMrsWilsoncaughtaglimpseoftheintruderthroughthestair-rails，sheatoncesawhewasastranger，aworkingman，itmightbeafellow-labourerwithherson，forhisdresswasgrimyenoughforthesupposition。Heheldaguninhishand。“MayImakeboldtoaskifthisgunbelongstoyourson？“Shefirstlookedattheman，andthen，wearyandhalfasleep，notseeinganyreasonforrefusingtoanswertheenquiry，shemovedforwardtoexamineit，talkingwhileshelookedforcertainold-fashionedornamentsonthestock。“Itlookslikehis；aye，it’shis，sureenough。Icouldspeaktoitanywherebythesemarks。Youseeitwerehisgrandfather’sasweregamekeepertosomeoneupinth’north；andtheydon’tmakegunssosmartnow-a-days。
But，howcomedyoubyit？Hesetsgreatstoreonit。Isheboundfortheshootinggallery？Heisnot，forsure，nowhisauntissoill，andmeleftallalone“；andtheimmediatecauseofheranxietybeingthusrecalledtohermind，sheenteredonalongstoryofAlice’sillness，interspersedwithrecollectionsofherhusband’sandherchildren’sdeaths。Thedisguisedpolicemanlistenedforaminuteortwo，togleananyfurtherinformationhecould；andthen，sayinghewasinahurry，heturnedtogoaway。Shefollowedhimtothedoor，stilltellinghimhertroubles，andwasneverstruck，untilitwastoolatetoaskthereason，withtheunaccountablenessofhisconduct，incarryingthegunawaywithhim。Then，assheheavilyclimbedthestairs，sheputawaythewonderandthethoughtabouthisconductbydeterminingtobelievehewassomeworkmanwithwhomhersonhadmadesomearrangementaboutshootingatthegallery；ormendingtheoldweapon；orsomethingorother。Shehadenoughtofrether，withoutmoideringherselfaboutoldguns。Jemhadgivenithimtobringtoher；
soitwassafeenough；or，ifitwasnot，why，sheshouldbegladnevertoseteyesonitagain，forshecouldnotabidefire-arms，theyweresoapttoshootpeople。So，comfortingherselfforthewantofthoughtinnotmakingfurtherinquiry，shefelloffintoanotherdoze，feverish，dream-haunted，andunrefreshing。Meanwhile，thepolicemanwalkedoffwithhisprize，withanoddmixtureoffeelings；alittlecontempt，alittledisappointment，andagooddealofpity。Thecontemptandthedisappointmentwerecausedbythewidow’seasyadmissionofthegunbeingherson’sproperty，andhermannerofidentifyingitbytheornaments。Helikedanattempttobafflehim；hewasaccustomedtoit；itgavesomeexercisetohiswitsandhisshrewdness。Therewouldbenofuninfox-hunting，ifReynardyieldedhimselfupwithoutanyefforttoescape。Then，again，hismother’smilkwasyetinhim，policeman，officeroftheDetectiveServicethoughhewas；andhefeltsorryfortheoldwoman，whose“softness“hadgivensuchmaterialassistanceinidentifyinghersonasthemurderer。However，heconveyedthegun，andtheintelligencehehadgained，tothesuperintendent；andtheresultwas，that，inashorttimeafterwards，threepolicemenwenttotheworksatwhichJemwasforeman，andannouncedtheirerrandtotheastonishedoverseer，whodirectedthemtothepartofthefoundrywhereJemwasthensuperintendingacasting。Dark，blackwerethewalls，theground，thefacesaroundthem，astheycrossedtheyard。But，inthefurnace-house，adeepandluridredglaredoverall；thefurnaceroaredwithmightyflame。Themen，likedemons，intheirfire-and-sootcolouring，stoodswartaround，awaitingthemomentwhenthetonsofsolidironshouldhavemelteddownintofieryliquid，fittobepoured，withstill，heavysound，intothedelicatemouldingoffineblacksand，preparedtoreceiveit。Theheatwasintense，andtheredglaregreweveryinstantmorefierce；thepolicemenstoodawedwiththenovelsight。Then，blackfigures，holdingstrangeshapedbucket-shovels，cameathwartthedeep-redfurnacelight，andclearandbrilliantflowedforththeironintotheappropriatemould。Thebuzzofvoicesroseagain；
therewastimetospeak，andgasp，andwipethebrows；andthen，onebyone，themendispersedtosomeotherbranchoftheiremployment。No。B72pointedoutJemasthemanhehadseenengagedinascufflewithMrCarson，andthentheothertwosteppedforwardandarrestedhim，statingofwhathewasaccused，andthegroundsoftheaccusation。Heofferednoresistance，thoughheseemedsurprised；butcallingafellow-workmantohim，hebrieflyrequestedhimtotellhismotherhehadgotinto。trouble，andcouldnotreturnhomeatpresent。Hedidnotwishhertohearmoreatfirst。SoMrsWilson’ssleepwasnextinterruptedinalmostanexactlysimilarwaytothelast，likearecuringnightmare。“Missis!missis!“someonecalledoutfrombelow。Againitwasaworkman，butthistimeablacker-lookingonethanbefore。“Whatdonyewant？“saidshe，peevishly。“Only，nothingbut——“stammeredtheman，akind-hearted，matter-of-factperson，withnoinvention，butagreatdealofsympathy。“Well，speakout，can’tye，andha’donewithit？““Jem’sintrouble，“saidhe，repeatingJem’sverywords，ashecouldthinkofnoothers。“Trouble？“saidthemother，inahigh-pitchedvoiceofdistress。“Trouble!
Godhelpme，troublewillneverend，Ithink。Whatd’yemeanbytrouble？
Speakout，man，can’tye？Isheill!Myboy!tellme，isheill？“inahurriedvoiceofterror。“Na，na，that’snotit。He’swellenough。Allhebademesaywas，’TellmotherI’mintrouble，andcan’tcomehometo-night。’““Notcomehometo-night!AndwhatamItodowithAlice？Ican’tgoon，wearingmylifeoutwi’watching。Hemightcomeandhelpme。““Itellyouhecan’t，“saidtheman。“Can’t，andheiswell，yousay？Stuff!It’sjustthathe’sgettenlikeotheryoungmen，andwantstogoa-larking。ButI’llgiveithimwhenbecomesback。“Themanturnedtogo；hedurstnottrusthimselftospeakinJem’sjustification。
Butshewouldnotlethimoff。Shestoodbetweenhimandthedoor，asshesaid，“Yoshallnotgotillyo’vetoldmewhathe’safter。Icanseeplainenoughyouknow，andI’llknow，too，beforeI’vedone。““You’llknowsoonenough，missis!““I’llknownow，Itellye。What’supthathecan’tcomehomeandhelpmenurse？Me，asnevergotawinko’sleeplastnightwi’watching。““Well，ifyouwillhaveitout，“saidthepoorbadgeredman，“thepolicehavegotholdonhim。““OnmyJem!“saidtheenragedmother。“You’readownrightliar，andthat’swhatyouare。MyJem，asneverdidharmtoanyoneinhislife。You’realiar，that’swhatyouare。““He’sdoneharmenoughnow，“saidtheman，angryinhisturn，“forthere’sgoodevidencehemurderedyoungCarson，aswasshotlastnight。“Shestaggeredforwardtostrikethemanfortellingtheterribletruth；
buttheweaknessofoldage，ofmotherlyagony，overcameher，andshesankdownonachair，andcoveredherface。Hecouldnotleaveher。Whennextshespoke，itwasinanimploring，feeble，child-likevoice。“Oh，master，sayyou’reonlyjoking。IaxyourpardonifIhavevexedye，butpleasesayyou’reonlyjoking。Youdon’tknowwhatJemistome。“Shelookedhumbly，anxiouslyupathim。“IwishIwereonlyjoking，missis；butit’strueasIsay。They’vetakenhimuponchargeo’murder。Itwerehisgunaswerefoundnearth’place；
andoneo’thepolicebeardhimquarrellingwithMrCarsonafewdaysback，aboutagirl。““Aboutagirl“brokeinthemother，oncemoreindignant，thoughtoofeebletoshowitasbefore。“MyJemwasassteadyas——“shehesitatedforacomparisonwherewithtofinish，andthenrepeated，“assteadyasLucifer，andhewereanangel，youknow。MyJemwasnotonetoquarrelaboutagirl。““Aye，butitwasthat，though。They’dgothernamequitepat。Themanbadheardalltheysaid。MaryBartonwashername，whoevershemaybe。““MaryBarton!thedirtyhussy!tobringmyJemintotroubleofthiskind。
I’llgiveitherwellwhenIseeher：thatIwill。Oh!mypoorJem!“rockingherselftoandfro。“Andwhataboutthegun？Whatdidyesayaboutthat？““Hisgunwerefoundonthespotwherethemurderweredone。““That’salieforone，then。Amanhasgotthegunnow，safeandsound。
Isawitnotanhourago。“Themanshookhishead。“Yes，hehasindeed。Afriendo’Jem’s，ashe’dlentitto。““Didyouknowthechap？“askedtheman，whowasreallyanxiousforJem’sexculpation，andcaughtagleamofhopefromherlastspeech。“No!Ican’tsayasIdid。Buthewereputonasaworkman。““It’smaybeonlyoneofthempolicemen，disguised。““Nay；they’dnevergofortodothat，andtrickmeintotellingonmyownson。Itwouldbelikeseethingakidinitsmother’smilk；andthatth’
Bibleforbids。““Idon’tknow，“repliedtheman。Soonafterwardshewentaway，feelingunabletocomfort，yetdistressedatthesightofsorrow；shewouldfainhavedetainedhim，butgohewould。
Andshewasalone。SheneverforaninstantbelievedJemguilty；shewouldhavedoubtedifthesunwerefire，first：butsorrow，desolation，andattimesanger，tookpossessionofhermind。ShetoldtheunconsciousAlice，hopingtorousehertosympathy；andthenwasdisappointed，because，stillsmilingandcalm，shemurmuredofhermother，andthehappydaysofinfancy。
Isawwherestarkandcoldhelay，Beneaththegallows-tree，Andeveryonedidpointandsay，“Twastherehediedforthee!’****Oh!weepingheart!Oh!bleedingheart!Whatbootsthypitynow？Bidfromhiseyesthatshadedepart，Thatdeath-dampfromhisbrow!TheBirtleTragedy。SotherewasnomorepeaceinthehouseofsicknessexcepttoAlice，thedyingAlice。ButMaryknewnothingoftheafternoon’soccurrences；andgladlydidshebreatheinthefreshair，assheleftMissSimmonds’house，tohastentotheWilsons’。Theverychange，fromthein-doortotheout-dooratmosphere，seemedtoalterthecurrentofherthoughts。Shethoughtlessofthedreadfulsubjectwhichhadsohauntedherallday，shecaredlessfortheupbraidingspeechesofherfellow-work-women；theoldassociationofcomfortandsympathyreceivedfromAlicegavehertheideathat，evennow，herbodilypresencewouldsootheandcomposethosewhowereintrouble，changed，unconscious，andabsentthoughherspiritmightbe。Then，again，shereproachedherselfalittleforthefeelingofpleasuresheexperienced，inthinkingthathewhomshedreadedcouldnevermorebesetherpathinthesecuritywithwhichshecouldpasseachstreetcorner——eachshop，whereheusedtolieinambush。Oh!beatingheart!wastherenootherlittlethoughtofjoylurkingwithin，togladdentheveryairwithout？
Wasshenotgoingtomeet，tosee，tohearJem；andcouldtheyfailatlasttounderstandeachother’slovinghearts!Shesoftlyliftedthelatch，withtheprivilegeoffriendship。Hewasnotthere，buthismotherwasstandingbythefire，stirringsomelittlemessorother。Nevermind!hewouldcomesoonandwithanunmixeddesiretodohergratefuldutytoallbelongingtohim，shesteppedlightlyforwards，unheardbytheoldlady，whowaspartlyoccupiedbythesimmering，bubblingsoundofherbitofcookery；butmorewithherownsadthoughts，andwailing，half-utteredmurmurings。Marytookoffbonnetandshawlwithspeed，andadvancing，madeMrsWilsonconsciousofherpresence，bysaying，“Letmedothatforyou。I’msureyoumunbetired。“MrsWilsonslowlyturnedround，andhereyesgleamedlikethoseofapent-upwildbeast，assherecognizedhervisitor。“Andisittheethatdaressetfootinthishouse，afterwhathascometopass？Isitnotenoughtohaverobbedmeofmyboywiththyartsandthyprofligacy，butthoumustcomeheretocrowoverme——me——hismother？