human
Have you joined the new society, Frank?
gpt
What society?
human
Why, the Regulators.
gpt
I don't know what you mean,
human
Yes, I guess they have managed to keep it pretty quiet, said William.
gpt
They don't want any outsiders to know any thing about it. They asked me to join in with them, but I told them that they ought to know better than to propose such a thing to me. Then they tried to make me promise that I wouldn't say any thing about it, but I would make no such promise, for--
human
Why, Bill, what are you talking about? inquired Harry.
gpt
You rattle it off as if we knew all about it.
human
Haven't you heard any thing about it, either? inquired William, in surprise.
gpt
I was certain that they would ask you to join. Well, the amount of it is that Charley Morgan and a lot of his particular friends have been organizing a company for the purpose of thrashing the Hillers, and making them stop robbing hen-roosts and orchards and cutting up such shines.
human
Yes, chimed in James Porter,
gpt
Well, that's news to me,
human
For my part, said Thomas Benton,
gpt
I, of course, know that the Hillers ought to be punished; but I do not think it is the duty of us boys to take the law into our own hands.
human
Nor I,
gpt
Well, _I_ do, said Harry, who, as we have said, was an impetuous, fiery fellow,
human
Now, see here, Harry, interrupted George.
gpt
You know very well that such a plan will never succeed, and it _ought_ not to. You have been taught that it is wrong to take things that do not belong to you, but with the Hillers the case is different; their parents teach them to steal, and they are obliged to do it.
human
Besides, said Frank,
gpt
Kindness! repeated Harry, sneeringly;
human
They can tell when they are kindly treated as well as any one else,
gpt
And another thing, said Ben. Lake;
human
Well, said James,
gpt
I shall do all I can to prevent a fight.
human
So will I,
gpt
said Harry, who, with his arms buried almost to the elbows in his pockets, was striding backward and forward across the steps.
human
I say the Hillers ought to be thrashed.
gpt
I'm afraid, said William, without noticing what Harry had remarked,
human
We don't want to break up their company, said Frank, with a laugh.
gpt
We must have a talk with them, and try to show them how unreasonable they are.
human
Here they come, now,