Page 10 - LN2-EXPLANATION

Para-16 Explanation
When they reached the farmland they found a heavily built cheerful old lady.
Bill went upto her with guts and introduced himself by saying that he was Bill
Magnuson and also told her that he was searching for her son Oliver. To this the
lady replied by shouting that she knew nothing about him.

Para-17
"Now, look here. We’ve had just about enough nonsense. This young man
represents the court in the city, and we have a legal right to search all properties
for this Oliver Lutkins."Bill made me sound very important, and the woman
was impressed. She retired into the kitchen and we followed. She seized an iron
from the old-fashioned stove and marched on us shouting. "You search all you
want to — if you don’t mind getting burnt first." She shouted and laughed at our
frightened retreat.

Represents: Be appointed to act on behalf of or speak for someone
Retired: Here, went inside
Seized: grabbed, snatched
Frightened: afraid or anxious
Retreat: pull back

Para-17 Explanation

Bill got a bit strict with the lady and said that they had been through tough and
confusing things and then introduced her to the clerk by saying that he was a
person appointed by the city court. He also said that they had got the legal right
to search her house to find Oliver Lutkins. The clerk was happy as he was
getting due importance from Bill and even the lady seemed impressed by him.
She went into the kitchen and both of them followed her. To their shock, she
took out a hot iron from the stove and threatened them to burn. She laughed
when they stepped back due to fear.

Para-18
"Let’s get out of here. She'll murder us," Bill whispered. Outside, he said, "Did
you see her smile? She was laughing at us." I agreed that it was pretty
disrespectful treatment. We did, however, search the house. Since it was only
one storey high, Bill went round it, peering in at all the windows. We examined
the barn and stable; we were reasonably certain that Lutkins was not there. It
was nearly time for me to catch the afternoon train, and Bill drove me to the
station.

Whispered: murmured
Disrespectful: rude, impolite
Examined: to look or consider a person or place