Cairness reminded him that Kirby had had a wife and children, too.
"Well, I didn't kill them, did I?" he whined.
"Not exactly, no. But you were an accessory after the fact."
"Why are you so all-fired anxious to vindicate the law?" He dropped easily into phrases.
Cairness assured him that he was not. "It is not my mission on earth to straighten out the territories, heaven be praised. This is purely a personal matter, entirely so. You may call it revenge, if you like. Lawton's in jail all safe, as you know. I got him there, and if he gets out anyway, I'll put him back again on this count."
Mrs. Lawton started forward in her chair. "What's he in for now? Ain't it for this?" she demanded.
"For destruction of government property," Cairness told her, and there was just the faintest twinkle between his lids. "I didn't know all these interesting details about the Kirbys until you told me, Mrs. Lawton."
She sat with her jaw hanging, staring at him, baffled, and he went on. "I've got Lawton jailed, as I was saying. I'll have you out of the country in three days, and as for Mrs. Lawton, I'll keep an eye on her. I'll know where she is, in case I need her at any time. But I'm not fighting women."
He stood up. "I'll see you off inside of three days then, Stone," he said amicably.
"Where do you want me to go?" he almost moaned, and finished with an oath.