human
What is the matter? the girl asked.
gpt
Have you broken something--or is the canary dead?
human
Sh! warned Betty, her little brown eyes blinking rapidly.
gpt
I heard something last night.
human
I didn't. I slept like a baby. The night before I heard that old foghorn----
gpt
I mean, interrupted Betty,
human
Well, go on.
gpt
About your uncle, Cap'n Abe. He--he never was seen to take that train to Boston. I got it straight, or pretty average straight. Mandy Baker told me, and Peke Card's wife, Mary Lizbeth, told her, who got it right from Lute Craven who works in the post-office uptown, and Lute got it from Noah Coffin. You know, he't drives the ark you come over in from Paulmouth. Well! Noah was at Paulmouth depot as he always is of course when the clam train stops at five-thutty-five. He says he didn't see Cap'n Abe nor nobody that looked like him board that train yest'day mornin'.
human
Why, Betty!
gpt
Besides, went on Betty;
human
But--but what of it?
gpt
Humph! Stands to reason, declared Mrs. Gallup,
human
I really don't see, Louise now said rather severely,
gpt
Cap'n Am'zon! Humph! sniffed Betty.
human
Nobody knows whether that's his name or not. _He_ comes here without a smitch of clo'es, as near as I can find out.
gpt
We were talking about Cap'n Abe, said Louise severely.
human
Just as he had his own good reasons for going away when and how he did, he probably had his reasons for taking nobody into his confidence. This Perry Baker, the expressman, must know that Cap'n Abe sent the trunk from the house, here.
gpt
Humph! Yes! Nobody's denyin' that.
human
Then Cap'n Abe must have known exactly what he wished to do. Cap'n Amazon surely had nothing to do with the chest, with how his brother took the train, or with _where_ he took it. Really, Betty, what do you suspect Cap'n Amazon has done?
gpt
I don't know what he's done, snapped Betty.
human
But I wouldn't put nothin' past him, from his looks. The old pirate!
gpt
You will make me feel very bad if you continue to talk this way about my Uncle Amazon, said the girl, far from feeling amused now.
human
It is not right. I hope you will not continue to repeat such things. If you do you will some time be sorry for it, Betty.
gpt
Humph! sniffed the woman.
human
Mebbe I will. But I'm warnin' you, Miss Grayling.
gpt
Warning me of what?
human
Of that man. That old sinner! I never see a wickeder looking feller in my life--and I've sailed with my father and my husband to 'most ev'ry quarter of the globe. He may be twin brother to the Angel Gabriel; but if he is, his looks belie it!