OMINOUS REMARKS OF MR. JONES.
The school-master's mind was like ancient Gaul--divided into three
parts. With one part he mechanically performed his school duties. With
another he asked himself, What shall I do about the robbery? And with
the third he debated about Bud and Hannah. For Bud was not present, and
it was clear that he was angry, and there was a storm brewing. In fact,
it seemed to Ralph that there was a storm brewing all round the sky. For
Pete Jones was evidently angry at the thought of having been watched,
and it was fair to suppose that Dr. Small was not in any better humor
than usual. And so, between Bud's jealousy and revenge and the suspicion
and resentment of the men engaged in the robbery at "the Dutchman's" (as
the only German in the whole region was called), Ralph's excited nerves
had cause for tremor. At one moment he would resolve to have Hannah at
all costs. In the next his conscience would question the rightfulness of
the conclusion. Then he would make up his mind to tell all he knew
about the robbery. But if he told his suspicions about Small, nobody
would believe him. And if he told about Pete Jones, he really could tell
only enough to bring vengeance upon himself. And how could he explain
his own walk through the pasture and down the road? What business had he
being out of bed at two o'clock in the morning? The circumstantial
evidence was quite as strong against him as against the man on the horse
with the white left forefoot and the white nose. Suspicion might fasten
on himself. And then what would be the effect on his prospects? On the
people at Lewisburg? On Hannah? It is astonishing how much instruction
and comfort there is in a bulldog. This slender school-master, who had
been all his life repressing the animal and developing the finer nature,
now found a need of just what the bulldog had. And so, with the thought
of how his friend the dog would fight in a desperate strait, he
determined to take hold of his difficulties as Bull took hold of the
raccoon. Moral questions he postponed for careful decision. But for the
present he set his teeth together in a desperate, bulldog fashion, and
he set his feet down slowly, positively, bulldoggedly. After a wretched
supper at Pete Jones's he found himself at the spelling-school, which,
owing to the absence of Hannah, and the excitement about the burglary,
was a dull affair. Half the evening was spent in talking in little
knots. Pete Jones had taken the afflicted "Dutchman" under his own
particular supervision.
"I s'pose," said Pete, "that them air fellers what robbed your house
must a come down from Jinkins Run. They're the blamedest set up there I
ever see."
"Ya-as," said Schroeder, "put how did Yinkins vellers know dat I sell te
medder to te Shquire, hey? How tid Yinkins know anyting 'bout the
Shquire's bayin' me dree huntert in te hard gash--hey?"
"Some scoundrels down in these 'ere parts is a-layin' in with Jinkins
Run, I'll bet a hoss," said Pete. Ralph wondered whether he'd bet the
one with the white left forefoot and the white nose. "Now," said Pete,
"ef I could find the feller that's a-helpin' them scoundrels rob us
folks, I'd help stretch him to the neardest tree."
"So vood I," said Schroeder. "I'd shtretch him dill he baid me my dree
huntert tollars pack, so I vood."
And Betsey Short, who had found the whole affair very funny, was
transported with a fit of tittering at poor Schroeder's English. Ralph,
fearing that his silence would excite suspicion, tried to talk. But he
could not tell what he knew, and all that he said sounded so hollow and
hypocritical that it made him feel guilty. And so he shut his mouth, and
meditated profitably on the subject of bull dogs. And when later he
overheard the garrulous Jones declare that he'd bet a hoss he could
p'int out somebody as know'd a blamed sight more'n they keerd to tell,
he made up his mind that if it came to p'inting out he should try to be
even with Jones.