“Silas,” said Andy, “I threw my old clothes up on that shelf. If they are still there, I shall be able to find an old leather pocketbook in them that contains a paper upon which depends a fortune.”
“You don’t say so?” remarked Silas, in open-mouthed wonderment “What queer things you happen across!”
“A gentleman named Webb is very, very anxious to recover that pocketbook. I want you to go at once with me and see if the clothes are still there,” and Andy briefly recited the story of the lost pocketbook and the details of his recent visit to the Collins farm.
He was consulting a railroad timetable to determine when the next train left Montrose, when Scipio rushed into the room.
“Andy, boy,” he spoke quickly, “yo’ told a boy to told me dat he was to be let come to see yo’?”
“What kind of a boy, Scipio?” inquired Andy.
Scipio described Dale Billings, and as he did so passed some personal comments on his “’spicious” appearance.
“Yes, that’s right, Scipio,” said Andy.
“Den somefin’s wrong,” declared the perturbed cook. “When he come, I say Mistah Nelson very much preoccupied with another gemman, and he must wait. He sot down on dat chair just outside the door hyar.”
“Go on, Scipio.”