“I reckon I better do it,” Frost agreed, almost knocked breathless by the importance of the thing he had overlooked.
So they laid their heads together to come to a proper method of procedure, and presently they marched around the corner of the house, shoulder to shoulder, as if prepared to intercept and overwhelm Joe if he tried to make a dash for liberty.
They had left Joe sitting on the steps with Dan, and now they hurried around as if they expected to find his place empty and Dan stretched out, mangled and bleeding. But Joe was still there, in friendly conversation with Dan, showing no intention of running away. Frost advanced and laid his hand on Joe’s shoulder.
“Joe Newbolt,” said he, “I put you under arrest on the suspiciont of shootin’ and murderin’ Isom Chase in cold blood.”
It was a formula contrived between the constable and Sol. Sol had insisted on the “cold blood.” That was important and necessary, he declared. Omit that in making the arrest, and you had no case. It would fall through.
Joe stood up, placing himself at the immediate disposal of the constable, which was rather embarrassing to Bill.
“Well, Bill, if you think it’s necessary, all right,” said he.
“Form of law demands it,” said Sol. 128
“But you might wait and see what the coroner thinks about it,” suggested Joe.
“Perliminaries,” said Greening in his deep way.