Lem. I say so. Prowling around——
Ber. Oh, belay there, Lem! There weren’t nothin’ a stranger could do last night but prowl around. It was hard enough for us folks that lives here all the time.
Lem. Well, maybe so, Cap’n, but we hev got to inquire what he was doing. (Importantly.) In fact we got to inquire into everybody’s business that was out last night. It ain’t so much those durned pipes, though it certainly beats tunket who took them, but the post-office was broken into, you must remember, and Obed’s safe was broke open.
Obad. (excited). Gosh all fog horns, yes! And, Abner, I found your pipe on the floor right by the safe.
Abner (staggered). What? I don’t believe it!
Obad. (handing him a pipe). Yes, sir! Yours all right! I know your pipe as well as I do my own.
Enter Lee by stairs, unnoticed.
Abner (breathing hard). Do you—do you mean to say that you think that I——
(Glances at Nat and stops abruptly.)
Lem. Why, o’ course not! The idee, Cap’n Freeman! We know you ain’t in no ways concerned, but don’t you see? It goes to show that the fellow that stole the pipes broke into the post-office?