In the book, as children, Roland D. LeBay snuck out of the house one night and set a bully's house on fire. Killing him and the parents. The bully's sister was seriously burned. It was said to have been the kitchen stove. But when Rollie snuck back in the window of his and George's room when he got back home. He smelled like gasoline. He said "Georgie, if you tell, I'll kill you!"