“Why shouldn’t I ask?” the coroner almost roared. “Are you hintin’ at somethin’?”
Thus did Aaron deliver himself temporarily into Johnny’s hands.
“Why, ain’t you the party what proclaimed long and loud last night that that dead man killed hisself?”
Gallup swallowed hard.
“That’s all, huh?” he cried angrily. “Sounded to me like you was puttin’ me under suspicion.”
“Ain’t I?” demanded Johnny. “I aim to, if I haven’t. I suspect every man in this town today. And in your case, I couldn’t begin to tell you all that I suspect about you.”
“Mouth talk—sluff, that’s all anybody can git from you!” Gallup shook his fist in Johnny’s face. “When I talk, I say somethin’.”
“Yeh, your tongue’s all right, Aaron, but your brain is dead. You go down to Brackett’s place and find out a thing or two. That dead man’s horse and outfit is down there.”
Tony’s smile melted to one of almost positive enjoyment as he saw Gallup’s dismay. This bit of information thoroughly upset Aaron. Truly, this Dice person had put one over on him!
“You meddlin’ insect!” Gallup screeched as he stamped away. “You’ve got two hours to git out of town. You’ll find I know eighteen or twenty little ways to shut you up!”