Nat (easily). Well, she has managed to pull along all these years. Why fret now? What she doesn’t know isn’t going to hurt her.
Lem. (outside). Cap’n Abner, are you up there?
Abner (going to door). Yes.
Obad. Well, for the love o’ Admiral Dewey, listen to this! (Enters, followed by Lem.)
Lem. Say, Obed has discovered that there weren’t nothin’ took from the post-office last night.
Obad. Gosh all fog horns, no! I found the money box! Not a cent gone! Everything upset from one end the place to the other, and nothing took! That young Gordon chap must be a lunatic. Cranberry has gone his bail, but I reckon he ought ter be in an asylum instead o’ traveling around loose.
Lem. Wal, it’s the durndest piece o’ business I ever heard tell on, and everybody don’t believe he took all those pipes even if there is so much evidence against him. Some says it was a big fellow and some says it was a little one.
Obad. I stick to it the man that stole my pipe wuz a little bit of a feller. He up behind me and put his hand in my pocket (illustrating as he talks) an’ scat before you could so much as wink.
Lem. Yes, an’ Jim Hincks says he wuz a big feller.
Abner. And Sammy said so once, and then he shied off and wouldn’t say much of anything.