How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
Family ties are strong in semirural communities, says we; therefore, and for other reasons, a kidnapping project ought to do better there than in the radius of newspapers that send reporters out in plain clothes to stir up talk about such things. We knew that Summit couldn't get after us with anything stronger than constables and, maybe, some lackadaisical bloodhounds and a diatribe or two in the local paper. So, it looked good. (3)
The setup seems simple enough and well thought out. Sam and Bill are not incompetent; they're simply a tad short sighted. They have given thought to their crime, and explained in fairly convincing terms why it should have worked.
Quote #2
That boy put up a fight like a welterweight cinnamon bear (11)
"Welterweight" is a boxing term that refers to someone who weighs between 140 and 147 pounds. If you remember, in another part of the story Johnny is described as being about 40 pounds. So here's this forty-pound kid who fights with the strength of a bear that's more than double his size. This should have been the first sign of trouble down the road.
Quote #3
Yes, sir, that boy seemed to be having the time of his life. The fun of camping out in a cave had made him forget that he was a captive himself. (15)
The plan seems to be going extremely well at this point. The boy is entertained and unlikely to run off. Sam and Bill should be able to sit tight and wait for their ransom to come in. Of course, nothing seems to go as planned in this story and it's only a matter of time until the tables are turned.