“I did not know that you had a brother by the name of Adoniah,” he said.
“It ain’t often I make mention of him. I 252 wa’n’t over fond of him. He didn’t treat Clemmie fair. Then, he wa’n’t nothing but a half-brother.”
“Don’t tell me his last name was Phillips?”
“Sartin was.... What was that you said, Mack?”
“I didn’t speak. I was just thinking.”
“I’d a heap sight rather you’d speak out loud than grunt like that. What in tarnation is the matter with you?”
“If you can throw any light on this man Phillips, I wish you’d do it. I’ve heard his name mentioned twice, by two different people, with quite different effects.”
“What do you mean by me throwing light on him?”
“Tell me about him, all you know, good and bad. What does Miss Pipkin know about him? Where is he?”
“Heave to, there, Mack! One at a time. I don’t know if Clemmie has any idea where he is now. She was purty thick with him once, and heerd from him once or twice after he went off to sea.”