"Parkinson told you!" I sung out. "How did you happen to see Parkinson?"
He winked.
"Oh, I saw him!" says he. "I've seen him a good many times lately. I made it my business to see him. He was pretty stuck on the Eureka till I got after him and I cal'late he'd have contracted for Eurekas, bid or no bid. But I put in my licks; I've drove over to West Ostable four nights and two Sundays in the last fortni't. And didn't I preach Nonesuch to him! He-he! You bet I did! And last night he said he was goin' to give us the job. Oh, I fixed that stuck-up Georgianna Lentz! I got even with her. He-he-he!"
I never was madder in my life. I took two steps toward him with my fists doubled up.
"You whelp!" says I—and then I stopped short. The Lentz girl herself was walkin' in at the front door.
"Good mornin', Cap'n Snow," she says, holdin' out her hand. She paid no more attention to 'Dolph than if he'd been a graven image. "Good mornin'," says she. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"
I was past carin' about the weather.
"Miss Georgianna," says I, "I'm glad you come in. I've got somethin' to tell you. I've got to beg your pardon for somethin' that ain't my fault or Mr. Jacobs', either. You and my partner and me had an agreement not to go nigh Parkinson or try to influence him in any way. Well, unbeknown to me, that agreement has been broke."
She stared at me, too astonished to speak.
"It's been broke," says I. "That—that critter there," pointin' to 'Dolph, "has been sneakin—"