Why ?" "Well, there's somethin' the matter with him.

Somethin' serious.

I was swabbin' decks in the barn about eleven o'clock, when he come postin' in, white and shaky, and so nervous he couldn't stand still.

Looked as if he had had a stroke almost.

I--" "Godfrey scissors! You don't s'pose Heman's comin' back has knocked out his chances for the committee, do you ?" "No, sir-ee! 'twan't that.