“D' you think she sispicioned anythin'?” asked Mr. Rowan out of one side of his mouth, and Elmer Lonnie said, “No, sir,” and wondered if his Pa “sispicioned anythin”' when Ma said, “Run git the old slippers.”
Mr. Waldo always walked up with Mr. Rowan, and just about that time his little Mary Ellen was climbing up into his lap and saying: “I bet you can't guess what I'm a-goin' to buy you for a Christmas gift with my pennies what I got saved up.”
“I'll just bet I can.”
“No, you can't. It's awful pretty—I mean, they're awful pretty. Somepin you want, too.” How could he guess with her fingering his tarnished cuff buttons and looking down at them every minute or two?
“Well, now, let me see. Is it a gold watch?”
“Nope.”
“Aw, now! I jist set my heart on a gold watch and chain.”
“Well, but it'd cost more money 'n I got. Three or fifteen dollars, mebby.”
“Well, let me see. Is it a shotgun?”
“No, sir. Oh, you just can't guess it.”