Zebedee lowered the paper and looked quizzically at his companion.
"Say, Abner," he began, "what were ye doin' yesterday?"
"What was I doin' yesterday! What de ye mean? Wasn't I Abner Andrews?"
"Ye couldn't have been accordin' to this mornin's paper. Ye must have been one o' them ancients ye've told me about so often, an' a mighty savage one at that."
"Hey, what are ye givin' me? What's that dirty sheet sayin' about decent people now?"
"Isn't it true?"
"What true?"
"That you acted like a fool or a lunatic in town yesterday; waylaid a girl drivin' along Main street; that she beat you black an' blue with her whip, an' then had you arrested?"
Abner was on his feet in an instant, greatly excited.
"Is that what it says?" he roared.