"You lead the life of a hermit?" I suggested.
"A what?" Tip exclaimed.
"You live in a cave in the woods and eat roots and nuts and meditate," I explained.
"You think I'm a squirrel," snapped the fugitive. "No, sir, I live with my cousin John Shadrack's widder."
"Ah!" I cried. "It's plain now, Tip, you deceiver. So there's the attraction."
"The attraction?" Tip's brow was furrowed.
"Mrs. John Shadrack," I said.
The fugitive broke into a loud guffaw. He leaned over the gate and let his pipe fall on the other side and beat the post violently with his hands.
"I allow you've never seen John Shadrack's widder," said he.
"I'd like to, Tip. Will you take me with you to Happy Valley?"