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 folks, none on 'em would so much as lookt out o' their winders."

The eye-witnesses naturally came in for a full share of attention also, and it was amusing to hear each one explain how it was that he was too late to be of any real use in the emergency. Their explanations made them heroes only in their own eyes. One, more loquacious and a coward at heart, remarked, as if it was a witty thought, "It looks like to me that John knew all about it beforehand, and it was planned to have old Watson look with favor on him," and then laughed immoderately; but his merriment was soon cut short. The remark had been overheard, and without seeing who struck him, the fellow rolled upon the grass. Robert Pearson had no patience with idle babblers, and besides that, Ruth was distantly related.

John Bishop took the praise bestowed upon him patiently at first, but before the day passed it became tiresome and then distasteful. The truth was, the incident had influenced him in a way that his neighbors did not suspect. He constantly saw,