Mr. Saunders thought it time to bluster a little. He rose to his feet threateningly.
“Cap'n Hedge,” he said, “no man 'll call me a liar.”
“There's a precious few that calls you anything else.”
“You're an old man, or I'd—”
“Never you mind how old I am. A minute ago you said I didn't look more 'n forty; maybe I don't feel any older, either.”
“If that Preston girl has told you any—”
“She hasn't told me anything. She doesn't know that I know anything. But I do know. I was in the entry upstairs at the schoolhouse for about ten minutes last night.”
Mr. Saunders' start was perceptible this time. He stood for a moment without speaking. Then he jerked the chair around, threw himself into it, and said cautiously, “Well, what of it?”
“I come up from the house to git Elsie home 'cause 'twas rainin'. I was told you was with her, and I thought there was somethin' crooked goin' on; fact is, I had a suspicion what 'twas. So when I got up to the door I didn't go in right away; I jest stood outside.”
“Listenin', hey! Spyin'!”