What's he a-lookin' for hangin' 'round here?
You can tell him it ain't no use--I--" He stopped suddenly, and with a characteristic look of cunning, turned away.
Patches rode beside him for some distance, but nothing that he could say would persuade the wretched creature to explain.
"Yes, I know you're my friend, all right, Patches," he answered.

"You sure been mighty friendly ter me, an' I ain't fergettin' it.

But I ain't a-tellin' nothin' to nobody, an' it ain't a-goin' to do you no good to go askin' him 'bout me, neither." "I'm not going to ask Professor Parkhill anything, Joe," said Patches shortly.
"You ain't ?" "Certainly not; if you don't want me to know.

I'm not trying to find out about anything that's none of my business." Joe looked at him with a cunning leer.

"Oh, you ain't, ain't you?
Nick 'lows that you're sure--" Again he caught himself.