Mr.Chase, his curiosity aroused, would have asked a dozen questions, but Mary-'Gusta would neither answer nor permit Shadrach to do so.
The Bacheldor family were at supper when the callers arrived.

Abner himself opened the door and he looked rather embarrassed when he saw the pair on the steps.

Captain Shad did not wait for an invitation to enter; he walked in and Mary-'Gusta followed him.
"Now then, Ab," said the Captain, briskly, "what's this about our cat stealin' your chickens ?" Mr.Bacheldor and Con, separately and together, burst into a tirade of invective against the offending David.
"That's all right, that's all right," broke in the Captain, crisply.

"If that cat stole your chicken it ought to be shot.

But are you sure of the cat?
Do you know ours did it?
This girl here says 'twasn't ours at all." "I know a dum sight better," began Abner, savagely.