Payson was in a situation to pursue him.
The old lady shook herself to make sure that no bones were
broken. Next, she sent Sam down into the hole to pick up her bag,
and then, finding, on a careful examination, that she had
recovered everything, even to the blue umbrella, fetched the
astonished Sam a rousing box on the ear.
"What did you do that for?" he demanded in an aggrieved tone.
" 'Taint half as much as you deserve," said the old lady. "I'm
goin' to your house right off, to tell your mother what you've
been a-doin'. Ef you was my child, I'd beat you black and blue."
"I wish I'd left you down there," muttered Sam.
"What's that?" demanded Mrs. Payson sharply. "Don't you go to
bein' sassy. It'll be the wuss for ye. You'll come to the gallows
some time, ef you don't mind your p's and q's. I might 'ave
stayed there till I died, an' then you'd have been hung."
"What are, you jawing about?" retorted Sam. "How could I know you
was comin'?"
"You know'd it well enough," returned the old lady.
Pages:
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236