human
The thieves must have done some damage if they went over those wires,
gpt
They got in through the houses, Hezzy answered promptly.
human
At night.
gpt
Got good locks?
human
Best we can buy,
gpt
Wish we could help you find the thieves, said Jim,
human
You bet, it's a dangerous business, but I suppose you have someone on the job, Uncle Norman!
gpt
Well, no, we haven't. We just try our best to catch them when they come for more, but we haven't been able to discover the thieves yet. I see that you have the watch dogs. Are they good?
human
They seem to be fine dogs, but one of them is sick this morning. I gave him a physic. It's the only thing I know to do for him, but I guess he'll come around,
gpt
You'd better call up the veterinary. I paid a good price for those beasts and should not like to have to buy another pair,
human
I called up the vet. He told me what to give him,
gpt
Well, guess that's all you can do. Someone might try to poison them, so keep an eye on what they eat.
human
I'm not taking any chances, Hezzy said hastily.
gpt
Want to have a look at him?
human
Not this afternoon, I want to get back. You boys seen enough to satisfy you for the time being?
gpt
Sure, Jim answered.
human
There isn't much to see. Sometime when you are coming again, we'll tag along if you'll let us, sir.
gpt
Be glad to have you.
human
Sure, bring them along any time, Hezzy spoke up.
gpt
I'm sorry you didn't say you belonged to the Fentons when you were here yesterday, but I didn't know, and turkeys are the scariest birds that grow wings.
human
That's all right, but we thought you might have heard about the plane and recognize us from that,
gpt
Fent told me you were coming from Texas in an airplane, but when a man's worried he don't stop to think. Only thing came into my head was you were some marauders and my men were both away for an hour.
human
All right, come along.
gpt
It's a great place, Uncle Norman. Maybe when we're flying around we can locate something which will solve the mystery for you, but you'd better not say anything to anyone because it might put the thieves wise and they'd work another way.
human
Very well, I'll keep it under my hat, but don't either of you go taking any chances. I want to send you home with whole bones and not in sections. That would be a poor ending for your trip.
gpt
We'll be careful. We were over the island with Aunt Belle this morning and I noticed the other end hasn't much good landing space. Too many trees and shrubs, except one hill that's kind of bare, but it isn't very big and it looks steep,
human
Your aunt certainly did enjoy her ride,
gpt
Don't we know it! We knew she would, but she was scared blue when we started--said it was like going to have a tooth drawn.
human
Got something on your mind besides your cap?
gpt
Yes, hair.
human
The rest is vacant space--
gpt
No it isn't, you nut. Keep away from those trees or a squirrel will mistake you for a part of his supper,
human
I say, what are you thinking about? I never saw you still so long except when you're in Her Highness and her voice keeps you quiet.
gpt
How did you like Hezzy?
human
Oh, he wasn't so bad when we were properly introduced. Guess if we had just lost two hundred turkeys we'd have been out with shot guns too. We'd have fired them first and sent apologies to the family afterwards. What do _you_ think of him?
gpt
I don't know. It's giving me a brainstorm to find out. Can't blame a man for being on the war path under those conditions. He's probably the salt of the earth, as your aunt says, and honest as the day is long, but I can't get over the idea that if we met him on the range in Texas, we'd turn the bull loose on him,
human
Maybe we would, Bob admitted, then he grinned,
gpt
Go on!
human
What's eating you besides the man's looks and his reception of us the other day?
gpt
Not much. It seemed to me that he wasn't overly anxious to have us come back--
human
Why yes he was--said to come--
gpt
Any time _with your uncle_. But when Mr. Fenton said we could come by ourselves and take a look, he said 'we could see it all in a few minutes.' Like as not, I'm barking up the wrong tree. Let's go up early in the morning and see what we can see around the border. I'd kind of like to talk with Bradshaw again. He was real decent and I'd like to know if he located any of that gang yet,
human
Suits me right down to the ground.
gpt
We've been kind of grounded since we came. Suppose your aunt would mind letting us take a lunch to eat in the air, or some nice place we pick out?
human
Of course she won't mind. What sort of crab do you think she is?
gpt
No sort of crab, unless there is a very generous, likable variety, but we don't want to make extra trouble for her. Your mother said that the farm takes a lot of work and she has no end of things to do. Tomorrow she's going to can some more--
human
And she'll be glad to have us out of the way for a while.