I was just repeatin' what you
said, David. Well, by gum, he was knocked silly. He saw that I did
know all about everything. I could tell that by the way he swallowed
without having anything to swallow.
"He kind o' got control of himself after a while, though, and began to
question me sarcastic-like. First, he wanted to know where the nigger
was now, and what woodpile he was in. I told him I didn't know
anything about the rascal, except that he'd promised to give me five
hundred dollars if I'd let him off and on condition I was never to
tell his employer of what had passed between us. 'Well,' says your
uncle, 'did he give you the five hundred?' 'No,' says I, 'he said he
couldn't do it until you had got control of the old boy's money.' Then
your uncle laughed. He said I was a fool. 'But,' says I, 'he gave me
some valuable trinkets he'd stolen from a cabinet in the house when
you were not looking. He said they were heirlooms and would easily
bring a thousand.' 'You infernal liar,' said your uncle, but he got a
little paler. 'Would you like to take a peek at what's in this little
bag?' says I, pulling a leather pouch from my inside pocket.
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