Yes, I got to be getting home now." The mail carrier, the postmaster and Sim's friend looked at one another as these details went forward.
"Well," said Pop Bentley, shrugging his bent shoulders, "if you would go away and leave a woman alone in a place like that----" "What do you mean ?" said Sim Gage suddenly.
"Why, that woman ain't _there_ no more, you fool.

She's gone!" "Gone?
What do you mean ?" "Whoever set fire to your place took her away, or else she's got lost somewheres." "Gone ?" said Sim Gage.

"Blind! You, Wid!"-- he turned upon his friend half-savagely--"you was talking to me about acts of Providence.

There ain't no such thing as Providence if this here's true.

Come on--I got to get home." They did start home, at a gallop, Sim half unconscious of what he did, carrying in his arm an excited puppy, impetuously licking his new master's hands and face.