Page:Arthur Stringer - The Door of Dread.djvu/64

 she sat back with an audible sigh. "I guess yuh ain't back none too soon!"

"Why?" asked Wilsnach.

"B'cause yuh're sure goin' to lose your little stick-up, if yuh leave her long in this dump!"

"Anything happened?"

"Yes, lots! And here's a letter Kestner sent on for yuh."

Wilsnach took the note from her hand. But he stood smiling down at her, without breaking the envelope's seal.

"Sadie, you're fine!" he repeated.

"Fine!" she cried, wuth a hoot of derision. "I was more'n that. I was dog-goned near fined!"

"Wait," commanded Wilsnach. "What was it I told you about that enunciation of yours?"

"Oh, gee, teacher, I just gotta denounce a while b'fore I can stop to pr'nounce! I always get weak on the English when I get indignant. And I've been some little bob-cat for the big-gunners o' this swamp!"

"But why were you nearly fined?"

"Well," began the seeress, with an abandoned rush of words that contrasted strangely with her earlier air of immobility, "I hadn't been stuck up in