human
You are correct in your statement about the four boys bein' took away, said Mr. Sanders,
gpt
Yes, dear, you were about to be too hasty in your remarks, suggested Mrs. Blasengame. Her soft voice had a strangely soothing effect on her husband.
human
If some of our young men had been seized, all of us, including you, my dear, would have been in a state of paralysis, just as our friends in Shady Dale were.
gpt
The only man in town that know'd it, Mr. Sanders explained,
human
That puts a new light on it, said the Colonel,
gpt
My dear, didn't these young men, and the Yankees who arrested them, take the train here?
human
By George! I believe they did, honey!
gpt
And in broad daylight?
human
I dunner what we're comin' to, he declared,
gpt
Say no more, Mr. Sanders; say no more--the mule is yours.
human
I suppose Lucy Lumsden is utterly crushed on Gabriel's account,
gpt
Crushed! exclaimed Mr. Sanders;
human
I know well how she feels, said the pale, bright-eyed little woman.
gpt
It is a pity the men can't have the same feeling.
human
Why, honey, what good would it do?
gpt
It would do no good; it would do harm--to some people.
human
And yet, said the Colonel, turning to Mr. Sanders with a protesting frown on his face,
gpt
A racket! I make a racket? Why, Mr. Blasengame, I'm ashamed of you! the idea!
human
Well, racket ain't the word, I reckon; but you look so sorry, honey, that to me it's the same as making a racket. It takes all the grit out of me when I know that you are sitting here, wondering what minute I'll be brought home cut into jiblets, or shot full of holes.
gpt
You've missed a good deal, Mr. Sanders, said the Colonel, stooping to kiss his wife.
human
You don't know what a comfort it is to have a little bit of a woman to boss you, and cuss you out with her eyes when you git on the wrong track.
gpt
Yes, said Mr. Sanders,
human
I allers feel like a widower when I see a man reely in love wi' his wife. It's a sight that ain't as common as it used to be. We'll go now, if you're ready, an' see the Major. I ain't got much time to tarry.
gpt
Oh, you want me to go too? said the Colonel eagerly.
human
Well, I'm your man; you can just count on me, no matter what scheme you've got on hand.
gpt
I'm mighty glad you come, said she;
human
I tuck 'em in de settin'-room, she said,
gpt
Major, he said, when he found opportunity to state the nature of his business,
human
Mighty well--mighty well, responded Major Perdue,
gpt
Not onless we do somethin' to help him out. They ain't no way in the world he can prove that he didn't kill that feller Hotchkiss. Ike Varner done the killin', but he's gone, an' I think his wife is fixin' to go to Atlanta. They've got the dead wood on Gabriel. They ain't no case at all ag'in the rest; but you know how Gabriel is--he goes moonin' about in the fields both day an' night, an' it's mighty hard for to put your finger on him when you want him. An' to make it wuss, Hotchkiss called his name more'n once before he died. It looks black for Gabriel, an' we must do somethin' for him.
human
I'll tell you what, Mr. Sanders, I'm just as much obliged to you for coming to me as if you had saved me from drowning. I have come to the point where I can't hold in much longer, and maybe you'll keep me from making a fool of myself. I'll say beforehand, I don't care what your plan is; I don't care to know it--just count on me.
gpt
And where do I come in?
human
Right by my side,