“I haven’t anything of yours,” returned Paul Barberry, gradually recovering from his surprise. In making a circle around the improvised camp he had stumbled upon them quite unexpectedly. “You talk as if I was a thief.”
“Didn’t you run off with that horse and wagon?” demanded Matt.
“Run off with it? No, why should I? The outfit belongs to me. Isn’t that so, boys?” and the corn salve doctor turned to his burly companions.
“Why, of course it does!” returned the men.
A thunderbolt from the sky at that moment would not have taken Andy and Matt more by surprise than did this statement. Paul Barberry’s assurance actually staggered them, and neither could speak for the moment.
“That outfit belongs to you?” cried Matt at length.
“Of course.”
“That’s the biggest falsehood I ever heard in my life!” burst out Andy. “You know very well that everything there belongs to us.”
“I know no such thing,” returned Barberry coldly. “I bought the outfit from you, and you know it. These gentlemen know it also.”