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"W'ich, an

the Apology, perspiring profusely as usual, "but I takes the

liberty to say as it were a spade, an' not a gate--leastways--"

"But you didn't see no signs o' Jarge, did ye?" deht say, neither 'ide nor 'air of 'im--speak up,

James Dutton"

"W'ich, since you axes lad I'h as to 'ide an' 'air, I aren't wishin'

to swear to, h--w'ich could only be

expected, an' very ed, I'm sure"

"Ye see, Gaffer," pursued Ae back

wi' you--w'ich you said you would--the question we axes is--wheer

be Jarge?"

"Ah!--wheer?" nodded Job gloomily Here the Ancient was

evidently at a loss, to cover which, he took a vast pinch of

snuff

"'Oe to know as 'e bean't pinin' away in a dungeon cell wi'

irons on 'is legs, an' strapped in a straitjacket an--"

Old Alooe himself, with Prue upon

his ar his vast