“Yank that bed apart!” he ordered.
The two lying on the boards above his head heard the men dragging the evergreen boughs off the couch. Joyce said not a word when their search was ended, but turned on his heel and returned to the front room, followed by his henchmen.
“Didn’t think yo’d fin’ nobody,” remarked Uncle Abe mildly, “If yo’ had, I’d sho’ bin supprised!”
“So you’d been surprised, eh?”
John J. Joyce had an unpleasant way of repeating words. Now he stood over the old man belligerently.
“Yaas, suh,” replied Uncle Abe with an unconcern he probably did not feel. “I could o’ tol’ yo’ dat dey’s nobody in dere. Who yo’all a-lookin’ fo’?”
“What business is that of yours?”
The old man remained silent.
“If you must know,” snarled Joyce, “we’re looking for a young fellow and a girl.”
“What dey doin’ uphyar in de woods at dis time o’ night?”