It was a cry that lifted even Lou’s eyebrows with the pain of it. Then Scott stood up.
“Reckon as he ain’t got no back-talk fur onst,” he said. “An’ reckon as we ain’t chummin’ wi’ one o’ his kidney what’s not got the pluck ter stan’ up ter his words. Tie him up, an’ chuck him in a corner. We’ll take him along ter Murray in the mornin’!”
Ted Douglas put aside the eager hands.
“Holt on a minute,” he said; and a thread in his voice steadied them. “Jimmie told Murray under oath, I suppose; but he wouldn’t guv me away here. He’d sooner take what yer said o’ him than that. So I tells yer meself. I tuk all old Buggy’s cash, an’ he wouldn’t tell, fur he knew as folks’d be offerin’ him charity. Fur his dyin’ like he did it’s me to answer come Settlin’ Day. Me—not Jimmie. But Jimmie was the on’y one as knowed it. Now ye all know.”
Then he wheeled, and went out into the black night where the wind raved.
“And that’s the biggest lie Ted Douglas ever told,” said Steve.
But Lou answered for more than one when he said:
“Where’s your voucher for that, eh?”
