"Pardon me, but will you be good enough to tell me where you got this rifle? I have good and sufficient reasons for asking the question," said Withem almost sternly.
"We took it from a man who had set out to shoot us up, sir," replied
Butler.
"Tried to shoot you up? When? Where?" demanded the visitor with a trace of excitement in his tone.
"This afternoon and to-night. Stacy Brown's cheek bears evidence of the fellow's marksmanship. It seems the man took us to be officers—-Rangers, he said."
"Then you—-you talked with him?"
"We did," answered Tad with a twinkle in his eyes. "In fact we held quite a lengthy conversation with the gentleman."
"Explain what you are getting at." Withem was deeply interested in the scant information that had been given to him. They saw that he was containing himself with difficulty.
"Tell, Mr. Withem. Don't beat about the bush," advised the professor.
"Yes; tell me what became of the fellow who shot you up," urged the visitor.
"What became of him, sir?"