Mary-'Gusta who interrupted.

"Cap'n Gould," she said, "please ask him what time it was yesterday
afternoon when he saw the cat run off with the chicken."

Bacheldor did not wait to be asked.

"'Twas quarter-past four yesterday afternoon," he declared. "I know the
time."

"I don't see what the time's got to do with it," put in Shadrach.

"But it's got everything to do with it," urged Mary-'Gusta. "Honest
truly it has."

"Oh, it has, eh? Why?"

"'Cause--'cause--Ask him if he's sure?"

Again Abner did not wait. "Course I'm sure," he replied. "I told Isaiah
Chase--yes, and I told that young-one, too--that I looked at the clock
just afore I looked out of the window and see the critter in the very
act. Yes, and Con see him too."

Mary-'Gusta stamped her foot in triumph. "Then it wasn't David,"
she said. "It wasn't David at all. 'Twas somebody else's cat, Mr.
Bacheldor."

"Somebody else's nothin'! Don't you suppose I know--"