The light and comfort of his own pleasant kitchen had quite restored Mr.
Shrimplin.

"I may say I seen times!" he repeated significantly. "There's something
doing in this here old town after all! I take back a heap of the hard
things I've said about it; a feller can scare up a little excitement if
he knows where to look for it. I ain't bragging none, but I guess you'll
hear my name mentioned--I guess you'll even see it in print in the
newspapers!" He warmed his cold hands over the stove. "Throw in a little
more coal, sonny; I'm half froze, but I guess that's the worst any one
can say of me!"

"You make much of it, whatever it is," said Mrs. Shrimplin.

"Maybe I do and maybe I don't," equivocated Mr. Shrimplin genially.

"Maybe you're not above telling a body what kept you out half the
night?" inquired his wife.

"If you done and seen what I've did and saw," replied Mr. Shrimplin
impressively, "you'd look for a little respect in your own home."

"I'd be a heap quicker telling about it," said Mrs. Shrimplin.

Mr. Shrimplin turned to Custer.

"I guess, you're thinking it was a burglar; but, sonny, it wasn't no
burglar--so you got another guess coming to you," he concluded
benevolently.