What in hell will we do, now?
They are after him in there, sure 's death!" Auntie Sue's face was white, and her lips trembled,--but only for a moment.
"Go back into the kitchen, Judy, and stay there," she commanded, in a whisper; and went to open the front door as calmly as if nothing unusual had happened.
Sheriff Knox was a big man, with a bluff, kindly manner, and a voice that made nothing of closed doors.

He returned Auntie Sue's greeting heartily, and, with one of his companions,--a quiet, business-looking gentleman,--accepted her cordial invitation to come in.

The third man of the party remained near the saddle-horses at the gate.
"Well, Auntie Sue," said the Sheriff, settling his ponderous bulk in one of the old lady's rocking-chairs, which certainly was not built to carry such a weight, "how are you?
I haven't seen you in a coon's age.

I'll swear, though, you ain't a minute older than you was when you first begun teachin' the little Elbow Rock school up there on the hill, are you ?" "I don't know, Sheriff," Auntie Sue returned, with a nervous little laugh.

"I sometimes think that I am a few days older.