“What business of yours is where I have been?”
“None—mebbe. Saw you and yore son ridin’ in and I’d kinda like to know
where you’ve been, thassall.”
Moore frowned. It was inconceivable that the sheriff should ride in and
ask where he had been—especially as he and Garvin were sworn enemies.
“I don’t _sabe_ your reasons, Garvin; and it’s none of your —— business
where we’ve been.”
Garvin fidgeted with his bridle reins.
“Have you met anybody who could swear where yuh was at a certain time?”
Moore frowned and shook his head.
“Didja leave home today?”
“No, we left yesterday. Now, what in —— is all this about?”
“The train was held up at Snake Creek bridge this mornin’ about
daylight,” replied Garvin slowly.
The newspaper slipped from Moore’s hand. For a moment he stared at
Garvin and then came straight down the steps and up to the horses.
Garvin’s hand slid to his gun. He had felt the weight of Flint Moore’s
fist and was not going to take any chances.
“You accuse me of doing that?” Moore’s voice was very low, but distinct.
“Don’t get het up,” advised Garvin. “If yuh didn’t, yuh can prove yuh
didn’t, can’t yuh?”
“Can you prove I did, Garvin?”
“I reckon,” said Garvin slowly. “I reckon we’ll let the jury decide
that.”
Garvin’s hand came up quickly and his pistol pointed at Flint Moore.
“Yo’re under arrest, Moore. Don’t move,” and then to Frawley, “Go and
get the kid, Jud.”
As Frawley turned his horse toward the sheds Pat came out on the front
porch. For a moment she stared at her father and the sheriff and then
she came down the steps and up to them. She looked at the pistol in the
sheriff’s hand and at her father’s tense face.
Wild Moore came out of the stable and saw Frawley riding toward him. He
could see his father standing beside the sheriff’s horse, with Pat a few
feet away.
He knew that something was wrong and waited for Frawley to come up.
Frawley was doing something he did not want to do; but he was only the
sheriff’s hired man.
“I reckon yo’re under arrest, Wild.”
Wild Moore looked up at him. He did not dislike Jud.
“What for?”
“Sheriff thinks that you and yore dad held up the train at Snake Creek
this mornin’.”
“The —— he does!” exploded Wild, and walked rapidly up to the sheriff,
paying no attention to the gun.
“What’s all this fool talk about?” he demanded.
Frawley rode up beside him and waited for the sheriff to speak.