‘Poor fellow,’ thought Vandewater to himself, ‘he takes this matter hard.’
On arriving at the shop of Jim Brown, that worthy was found at home, although he had just returned from some expedition, and was covered with dust.
Charley introduced Mr. Vandewater.
Jim hung down his head a moment as if brushing the dirt from his leggings.
‘I want to ask you, Mr. Brown, if you have contemplated an excursion lately?’
‘Sir?’ said Jim with a stare.
‘He don’t savez—give me leave, sir,’ put in Charley. ‘Jim, we want to know if you have had any business out of town, lately?’
Jim looked first at one and then the other. He was a little short man, with squint eyes, and looked as if he had not shaved in a month.
‘I goes sometimes to see my folks that I trade with. I was at a rancho yesterday.’
‘How late did you stay, Jim?’