very sure that
Humphreys would listen from above. He heard his stealthy tread, after a
while, disturb a loose board on the upper porch. Then he began to talk
to Cynthy Ann in this strain:

"You see, I can't tell no secrets, Cynthy Ann, even to your Royal
Goodness, as I might say, seein' as how as you a'n't my wife, and a'n't
likely to be, if Brother Goshorn can have his way. But you're the Queen
of Hearts, anyhow. But s'pose I was to hint a secret?"

"Sh--sh--h-h-h!" said Cynthy Ann, partly because she felt a sinful
pleasure in the flattery, and partly because she felt sure that
Humphreys was above. But Jonas paid no attention to the caution.

"I'll give you a hint as strong as a Irishman's, which they do say'll
knock you down. Let's s'pose a case. They a'n't no harm in s'posin' a
case, you know. I've knowed boys who'd throw a rock at a fence-rail and
hit a stump, and then say, 'S'posin' they was a woodpecker on that air
stump, wouldn't I a keeled him over?' You can s'pose a case and make a
woodpecker wherever you want to. Well, s'posin' they was a inquisition
or somethin' of the kind from the guv'nor of the State of ole Kaintuck
to the guv'nor of the State of Injeanny? And s'posin' that the dokyment
got lodged in this 'ere identical county? And s'posin' it called fer the
body of one Thomas A. Parkins, a_li_as J.W. 'Umphreys? And s'posin' it
speecified as to sartain and sundry crimes committed in Paduky and all
along the shore, fer all I know? Now, s'posin' all of them air things,
what _would_ Clark township do to console itself when that toonful v'ice
and them air blazin' watch-seals had set in ignominy for ever and ever?
Selah! Good-night, and don't you breathe a word to a livin' soul, nur a
dead one, 'bout what I been a-sayin'. You'll know more by daylight
to-morry 'n you know now."

And the last part of the speech was true, for by midnight the Hawk had
fled. And the sale of the Anderson farm to Humphreys was never
completed. For three days the end of the world was forgotten in the
interest which Clark township felt in the flight of its favorite. And by
degrees the story of Norman's encounter with the gamblers and of
August's recovery of the money became spread abroad through the
confidential hints of Jonas. And by degrees another story became known;
it could not long be concealed. It was the story of Betsey Malcolm, who
averred that she had been privately married to Humphreys on the occasion
of a certain trip t