He had grabbed Ned's arm and was pushing him toward the back
of the store!
"Hide, Ned! Quick!"
"Where, Mister Jodie? Where?"
"Jerk the top off my oil drum and scrooch down in there. It's
empty!"
"Where's I gwine to put Little Stray?"
"Stick him in the flour barrel! Make haste! But don't shut
that lid tight! Bandershanks, baby, come 'way from the window.
You sit back down under the candy counter and be playing with
them paper dolls! You too, Shoogie! Don't let them puppies get
outta that box or make any racket. And, Bandershanks, if you ever
in your life kept your mouth shut, do it this time! Don't say a
word-not a word-when all the men come in. Don't mention Ned and
Stray. Just keep playing and keep quiet!"
Papa dashed back toward the heater. "Black Idd, the men are
after Ned! And Mister Bailey's got the sheriff, figuring to have
me arrested, I reckon! You gotta help me till I can talk some
sense into them!"
"What I do, Mister Jodie?"
"Get farther back there behind the heater and sit on the keg.
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