human
About, about? he repeated.
gpt
Dick Arbuckle! Oh, dear me! I've seen your father's ghost!
human
Pumpkin!
gpt
Yes, I did. Hope to die if I didn't. I was just coming to camp from town. Some men kept me, and made me sing and dance for them--you know how I can sing--tra-la-la-da-do-da-bum! They promised me a dollar, but didn't give it to me. I was running to get out of the wet when I plumped into something fearful--a ghost! Your father, covered with blood, and groaning and moaning, 'Robbed, robbed; almost murdered!' That's what the ghost said, and he caught me by the hand. See, the blood is there yet, even though I did try to wash it off in the rain. Oh, Dick, what does it mean?
human
It means something awful has happened, Pumpkin, if your story is true----
gpt
Hope to die if it ain't,
human
A big baboon Glared at the moon, And sang la-la-la-dum! 'Come down to me And I will be Your lardy-dardy----'
gpt
Stop it, Pumpkin, interrupted Dick.
human
Come along with me.
gpt
To where?
human
To where you saw my father.
gpt
Not for a million dollars--not for a million million! cried the half-witted boy.
human
It wasn't your father; it was a ghost, all covered with blood!
gpt
It was my father, Pumpkin; I am sure of it. He is missing, and something has happened to him. Perhaps he fell and hurt himself. Come on.
human
Missing, is he? Then it wasn't a ghost. La-la-dum! What a joke. Will you go along, too?
gpt
Of course.
human
And take a pistol?
gpt
Yes.
human
Poor mon, Oi thrust he is not very much hurted, broke in Rosy Delaney, who had been a close listener to the foregoing.
gpt
If he is, Dick Arbuckle, bring him here, an' it's Rosy Delaney will nurse him wid th' best of care.