"No. I mean yes. I know I ain't."
"Where is it; lost?"
The key was usually lost, that is to say, Jed was accustomed to hunt for fifteen minutes before finding it, so, his conscience backing his inclination, he replied that he cal'lated it must be.
"Umph!" grunted Powless. "How do you get into the house without a key?"
Jed rubbed his chin, swallowed hard, and drawled that he didn't very often.
"You do sometimes, don't you?"
The best answer that the harassed windmill maker could summon was that he didn't know. The red-faced gentleman stared at him in indignant amazement.
"You don't KNOW?" he repeated. "Which don't you know, whether you go into the house at all, or how you get in without a key?"
"Yes,—er—er—that's it."
Mr. Powless breathed deeply. "Well, I'll be damned!" he declared, with conviction.