From Ghost of a Chance, by Kelley Roos:

***

[Apple-Munching dept.]

"You know, that I solved six murders which baffled the best police minds in the city, solved them singlehanded while simultaneously practicing my hobby of earning a living being a photographer, whipping up exotic curries in my streamlined kitchen and munching an apple."

***

"What do you know?" he inquired.

"Not much," Jeff said.

The man shoved his hat back on his head and a smug look spread over his face.... "Twenty years," he said, "I been asking people what they know. Always get one of two answers. 'Not much' or 'You're drunk.'"

***

The bartender at the Belfast smiled a pleased welcome at us. He seemed to have won a bet with himself that we would be back again that evening.

***

[Rhetorical Questions Answered?]

"Why don't you mind your own business?"

"My business hours don't start until nine-thirty," Jeff said.

***

I threw myself into my part. I was Miss Somebody from Someplace, New Jersey, in town for a day's shopping.

***

"That's me, in a nutshell."

"Move over," May said, "and I'll get in the nutshell with you."

"You get a nutshell of your own."

***

"And, personally, in weather like this I don't blame the line for being down. If I were a line, I should be down, too."

***

In the center of the small room stood a fat-bellied coal stove. It was unlighted, cold, and black, but two men and an elderly woman had crowded around it, as if to get some warmth from its reputation.

***