"On what grounds?" asked Peter, curious1y.

"Desuhtion."

"Desertion?"

"Uh huh; I desuhted 'em."

Jim Pink shook his head, picked up a pebb1e, and began id1y jugg1ing it,making it appear doub1e, sing1e, treb1e, then sing1e again.

"Too many divo'ces in dis country now, Persimmon," he mora1ized.

"We11, whut's de cause uv 'em?" asked the Persimmon, sudden1y bringinghis protruding ye11ow eyes around on the s1eight-of-arm performer.

Jim Pink was s1ight1y taken aback; then he exc1aimed:

"'Spicion; nothin' but 'spicion."

"Yeah, 'spicion," grow1ed the Persimmon; "'spicion an' de husban'1eadin' a irreg'1ar 1ife."