The murder would be out, and Eastboro Twin-Lights would shortly be shy a substitute assistant keeper.
But there were no embarrassing questions.

Atkins scarcely noticed him.

Seated in the rocker, he looked up as the young man entered, and immediately looked down again.

He seemed to be in a sort of waking dream and only dimly conscious of happenings about him.
"Hello!" hailed the assistant, with an assumption of casual cheerfulness.
"Hey?
Oh! how be you ?" was Mr.Atkins's reply.
"I've been for my dip," explained Brown.

"The water was fine to-day." "Want to know!" "You're up early, aren't you ?" "Hey?
Yes, I guess likely I be." "What's wrong?
Not sick, are you ?" "No.