"'Twas funny, wasn't it ?" "Oh, dreadfully!" was the hurried answer.
"Yes.

Seems to me you took an awful long time findin' that hammer." "It was away back in the drawer.

I didn't see it at first." "Hum! Grace Van Horne, if I thought you heard what that--that THING said to me, I'd--I'd--Good land of mercy! somebody ELSE is comin'." Steps, measured, dignified steps, sounded on the walk.

From without came a "Hum--ha!" a portentous combination of cough and grunt.

Grace dodged back from the window and hastily began donning her hat and jacket.
"It's Cap'n Elkanah," she whispered.