Heck, Atticuss back was turned. If this things hushed up itll be a simple denial to Jem of the way Ive tried to raise him. Sometimes I think Im a total failure as a parent, but Im all theyve got. Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and Ive tried to live so I can look squarely back at him . . . if I connived at something like this, frankly I couldnt meet his eye, and the day I cant do that Ill know Ive lost him. I dont want to lose him and Scout, because theyre all Ive got.

Mr. Finch, Mr. Tate was still planted to the floorboards. Bob Ewell fell on his knife. I can prove it.

Atticus wheeled around. His hands dug into his pockets. Heck, cant you even try to see it my way? Youve got children of your own, but Im older than you. When mine are grown Ill be an old man if Im still around, but right now Imif they dont trust me they wont trust anybody. Jem and Scout know what happened. If they hear of me saying downtown something different happenedHeck, I wont have them any more. I cant live one way in town and another way in my home.

Mr. Tate rocked on his heels and said patiently, Hed flung Jem down, he stumbled over a root under that tree andlook, I can show you.

Mr. Tate reached in his side pocket and withdrew a long switchblade knife. As he did so, Dr. Reynolds came to the door. The sondeceaseds under that tree, doctor, just inside the schoolyard. Got a flashlight? Better have this one.

I can ease around and turn my car lights on, said Dr. Reynolds, but he took Mr. Tates flashlight. Jems all right. He wont wake up tonight, I hope, so dont worry. That the knife that killed him, Heck?

No sir, still in him. Looked like a kitchen knife from the handle. Ken oughta be there with the hearse by now, doctor. night.

Mr. Tate flicked open the knife. It was like this, he said. He held the knife and pretended to stumble; as he leaned forward his left arm went down in front of him. See there? Stabbed himself through that soft stuff between his ribs. His whole weight drove it in.

Mr. Tate closed the knife and jammed it back in his pocket. Scout is eight years old, he said. She was too scared to know exactly what went on.

Youd be surprised, Atticus said grimly.

Im not sayin she made it up, Im sayin she was too scared to know exactly what happened. It was mighty dark out there, black as ink. d take somebody mighty used to the dark to make a competent witness . . .

I wont have it, Atticus said softly.

God damn it, Im not thinking of Jem!

Mr. Tates boot hit the floorboards so hard the lights in Miss Maudies bedroom went on. Miss Stephanie Crawfords lights went on. Atticus and Mr. Tate looked across the street, then at each other. They waited.

When Mr. Tate spoke again his voice was barely audible. Mr. Finch, I hate to fight you when youre like this. Youve been under a strain tonight no man should ever have to go through. Why you aint in the bed from it I dont know, but I do know that for once you havent been able to put two and two together, and weve got to settle this tonight because tomorrowll be too late. Bob Ewells got a kitchen knife in his craw.

Mr. Tate added that Atticus wasnt going to stand there and maintain that any boy Jems size with a busted arm had fight enough left in him to tackle and kill a grown man in the pitch dark.

Heck, said Atticus abruptly, that was a switchblade you were waving. Whered you get it?

Took it off a drunk man, Mr. Tate answered coolly.

I was trying to remember. Mr. Ewell was on me . . . then he went down. . . . Jem must have gotten up. At least I thought . . .

Heck?

I said I took it off a drunk man downtown tonight. Ewell probably found that kitchen knife in the dump somewhere. Honed it down and bided his time . . . just bided his time.

Atticus made his way to the swing and sat down. His hands dangled limply between his knees. He was looking at the floor. He had moved with the same slowness that night in front of the jail, when I thought it took him forever to fold his newspaper and toss it in his chair.

Mr. Tate clumped softly around the porch. It aint your decision, Mr. Finch, its all mine. Its my decision and my responsibility. For once, if you dont see it my way, theres not much you can do about it. If you wanta try, Ill call you a liar to your face. Your boy never stabbed Bob Ewell, he said slowly, didnt come near a mile of it and now you know it. All he wanted to do was get him and his sister safely home.