"Jodie, all I know is that he took off for town before daylight! Lida Belle told my wife he went to get the sheriff to arrest you! Why, I can't imagine."
"I wouldn't 've thought it of Wes. He knows me better'n that!"
"I tell you what, Jodie: whoever gets here first, you keep them in the store as long as you can, while I go to warn Ned. If it's Wes and the sheriff, get Wes to talking; get him wound up. Mention the old feud or something to set him off! Then, quick as I get back, I'll set Wes and the sheriff straight. If Old Man Hawk comes in first, ask him about his mule! Get his mind on Nellie, and he'll forget all about Ned."
"I'll do the best I can."
"Try anything to stall them. I'll hurry across the creek and tell Ned he'd better hide. I'm not worried about you, Jodie. But Hawk may try to kill Ned!"
"Yeah, he might! He's just crazy enough for something like that!"
"I wish to Heaven I knew how to run a automobile! I'd get Ophelia to let me borrow Ward's! Then I could rush Ned off somewhere!"
Wiley threw down my pasteboard chair and scrambled to his feet. "I can run it, Doctor Elton!"
"You knocked over all my beds and chairs, Wiley!"
He wouldn't listen, much less come back and help me. I had to straighten up my whole playhouse by myself.