"Better not!" cautioned Sube. "Your mother'll give you a dose of castor oil!"
"No she won't," muttered Gizzard weakly. "I'm goin' anyhow."
"Seen any strays to-day?" Sube called after him as he went out of the door.
"Nope. S'long!"
"S'long!"
Twice that afternoon Gizzard returned, and each time went away complaining of weakness in his middle. Why he did not tell Sube what he had heard can never be explained, for Gizzard did not know himself. Perhaps he did not wish to have his partner unduly alarmed by rumors that might turn out to be false. But when he came rushing into the barn after supper, he told what had been on his mind, without further delay.
"Hey, Sube!" he cried in a tremulous voice. "You gotta get out of here! He jus' went in your house lookin' for you!"
He caught Sube by the arm and dragged him towards the door.
"What I got to get out for?" asked the amazed cat-catcher.
"Dan Lan-non!" enunciated the terrified informant. "He's goin'ta 'rest you!"