Make out like you're dozing off to sleep! It'll look like
everything's the same as usual."
Papa leaped over the counter and ran to the far end of the
store, where he started moving bottles of snuff from one shelf to
another. He began whistling, of all things. Next minute, when
Mister Wes shoved open the front door and all the men came
crowding in, Papa didn't so much as halfway look around.
"Hey, Jodie!"
"Why hi, Wes! I'll be up there in a minute. I was sorta
straightening things up back here in the back, getting this
conglomeration of snuff together on one shelf. Well! Looks like
we got quite a delegation here! Morning, Sheriff. Morning, Mister
Hawk. Hal, Dan, all y'all. Come on in, Doctor Elton. Why, Pa, I
didn't see you. Y'all find yourselves some chairs. I got one or
two more here in the back. Wiley, son, you bring them up here so
everybody can sit down. I'll roll up another nail keg or two."
"We ain't in no sittin' notion!" Mister Hawk told Papa.
"Jodie, it was that darkie Ned that murdered Ward! We gotta get
him.
Pages:
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294