“Shucks, I done heard ’bout de book. Dey warn’t no plans inside it.”
“Huh! Dey sho wuz, too!”
“Whar dey at?”
“Miss Dor’thy done took er knife an’ ripped dat book erpart! Dat little lady is de quality, an’ she sure am smart. De plans was on thin paper, pasted in de back whar de leaves o’ de book am sewed togedder.”
“Do tell!” Liza shook her head. “But what I nevah did un’erstan’ wuz why Marse Joyce tried ter kidnap de other boys and girls.”
“Liza, you sho’ is dumb. It all come out in de trial. Firs’ Marse Joyce think Marse George know ’bout de plans, so his men try ter make him tell. Den when Miss Dor’thy busted up dat party, he know dat de other chilluns would sho’ crab his game if dey wuz let loose ter tell ’bout it.”
“Abe, you is crazy! How dat man goin’ ter keep all dose young folks locked in his house while he try to sell dem plans? De police sure find dem befo’ he’s able ter do dat!”
“No. Liza, you’s wrong agin. Marse Joyce knew a lot about dem plans. Marse Conway had done tol’ him consider’ble about dem, and Marse Joyce done tell de Rooshians what Marse Conway tell him. De Rooshians say dey give him a heap of money jes’ as soon as he build dat engine.”
“An’ Marse Joyce figured he’d beat it to Rooshia jes’ as soon as he could put his han’s on de plans?” said Liza.
“Dat’s right—” nodded the old darky. “You ain’t quite ez dumb ez yo’ looks, niggah. An’ de way Marse George is a-hangin’ roun’ Miss Betty—”