Mr. Ewell kept the same distance behind her until she reached Mr. Link Deas’s house. All the way to the house, Helen said she heard a soft voice behind her, crooning foul words. Thoroughly frightened, she telephoned Mr. Link at his store, which was not too far from his house. As Mr. Link came out of his store he saw Mr. Ewell leaning on the fence. Mr. Ewell said “Don’t you look at me, Link Deas, like I was dirt. I a’int jumped your – ”
“You don’t have to touch her. All you have to do is make her afraid, an if assault a’int enough to keep you locked up awhile, I’ll get you in on the Ladies Law, so you get outa my sight! If you think I mean it, just bother that girl again.”
– Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 27. Bob Ewell starts to harrass and follow Tom Robinson’s widow Helen around town, trying to scare her and exert his power over her. Link Deas warns him and threatens to get Sheriff Tate involved.