"Slow!" repeated Janice.
"I guess you wouldn't talk about bein' slow, Jason Day, if you was arrested," Aunt 'Mira interjected.
"Ma's right," said Marty. "Mebbe they'll put him in the cell under the
Town Hall 'fore you kin get downtown."
"There ain't no sech haste as all that," stated Uncle Jason. "What's the matter of you folks?"
He spoke rather testily, and Janice looked at him in surprise. "Why, Uncle!" she cried, "what do you mean? It's Nelson Haley who is in trouble."
"I mean to eat my dinner fust of all," said her uncle firmly. "And so had you better, my gal. A man can't be expected to go right away to court an' put up every dollar he's got in the world for bail, until he's thought it over a little, and knows something more about the trouble."
"Why, Jason!" exploded Aunt 'Mira. "Of course Mr. Haley is innocent and you will help him."
"Hi tunket, Dad!" cried Marty. "You ain't goin' back on Nelson?"
Janice was silent. Her uncle did not look at her, but drew his chair to the table. "I ain't goin' back on nobody," he said steadily. "But I can't do nothing to harm my own folks. If, as you say, Marty, them coins is so vallible, his bail'll be consider'ble—for a fac'. If I put up this here property that we got, an'—an' anything happens—not that I say anythin' will happen—where'd we be?"
"What ever do ye mean, Jason Day?" demanded his wife. "That Nelson
Haley would run away?"