When he spoke, there was a trace of disappointment in his tone.

To have been able to electrify his audience with the news of some startling discovery would have been pure joy for Asaph.
"Well," he began, "I don't know's I found out anything much.

Yet I did find out somethin', too; but it don't really amount to nothin'.

I hoped 'twould be somethin' more'n 'twas, but when nothin' come of it except the little somethin' it begun with, I--" "For the land sakes!" snapped Bailey Bangs, who was a trifle envious of his friend's position in the center of the stage, "stop them 'nothin's' and 'somethin's,' won't you?
You keep whirlin' 'em round and over and over till my head's FULL of 'nothin',' and--" "That's what it's full of most of the time," interrupted Asaph tartly.
Captain Cy hastened to act as peacemaker.
"Never mind, Bailey," he said; "you let Ase alone.

Tell us what you did find out, Ase, and cut out the trimmin's." "Well," continued Mr.Tidditt, with a glare at Bangs, "I asked Seth about the Thayers and the Richards folks the very fust night I struck Orham.