"This is a very dreadful business!" began the judge softly.
"Ain't it ?" agreed Hicks.

"What you got to say to me ?" he added petulantly.
"Have you started to drag the bayou ?" asked the judge.

Hicks nodded.
"That was your idea ?" suggested the judge.
"No, it wa'n't," objected Hicks quickly.

"But I said she had been actin' like she was plumb distracted ever since Charley Norton got shot--" "How ?" inquired the judge, arching his eyebrows.

Hicks was plainly disturbed by the question.
"Sort of out of her head.