"Fred Worthington, d'ye say?"
"Yes, sir."
"I s'pose yer father's the cobbler?"
"He has a shoe shop, sir."
"Be you the chap I heerd them men speakin' of as stole some money?" said Hanks, with a fiendish grin, which revealed two upper front teeth that seemed long because they alone guarded that portion of his mouth. They had been in use so many years, or had been so poorly treated, that they were loose, and rattled together.
"Perhaps they referred to me, sir," retorted Fred with dignity, "but they had no right to accuse me of stealing."
"Yis, yis; that's how such allers talks. But I guess thar ain't nothin' here fer yer to git yer hands on to, 'ceptin' work—I'll see't yer ain't sufferin' fer that."
"Very well, sir; I came here to work."
"I s'pose ye're perty strong, ain't yer?"
"I'm strong enough for a boy."