Asaph turned red.
“Friend of mine!” he snarled. “No, SIR! she ain't no friend of mine, I'm thankful to say. More a friend of Bailey's, here, if she's anybody's. One of his pets, she was, for a spell. A patient of his, you might say; anyhow, he prescribed for her. 'Twas that deef idiot, Debby Beasley, Cy; that's who 'twas. Her name was Briggs afore she married Beasley, and she was hired help for Emily Thayer, when Mary was born, and until John died.”
Captain Cy burst into a roar of laughter. Bailey sprang out of his chair.
“De—Debby Beasley!” he stammered. “Debby Beasley!”
“She was that deef housekeeper Bailey hired for me, teacher,” explained the captain. “I've told you about her. Ho! ho! so that's the end of the mystery huntin'. We go gunnin' for Heman Atkins, and we bring down Debby! Well, Ase, goin' to see the old lady?”
Mr. Tidditt's retort was emphatic.
“Goin' to SEE her?” he repeated. “I guess not! Godfrey scissors! I told Seth, says I, 'I've had all the Debby Beasley I want, and I cal'late Cy Whittaker feels the same way.' Go to see her! I wouldn't go to see her if she was up in Paradise a-hollerin' for me.”
“Nobody up there's goin' to holler for YOU, Ase Tidditt,” remarked Bailey, with sarcasm; “so don't let that worry you none.”
“Are YOU going to see her, Captain Whittaker?” asked Phoebe.
The captain shook his head.