"That it did, Sheriff; you would not have been the man for your office if you had let him escape. We must often do things that are not pleasant."
The two men arose and walked slowly toward the house. Mr. Howard volunteered to assist the Sheriff, but the latter preferred to make the arrest alone. It was his intention to start for the cave early on the following morning, so as to examine the entrance during the day and be ready to capture the Tinker at night.
Mr. Howard brought the visitor to Owen's room, where a bed had been prepared for him. As soon as the farmer retired the sheriff drew Stayford's pistol from his pocket, and, handing it to Owen, asked whether he had ever seen it before.
The boy examined the rusty weapon, then gave it back with the assurance that this was the first time he had seen it.
"Take it again, and look at the barrel," said Mr. Lane.
Owen was still ignorant of the fact that this was the pistol which he had knocked from Stayford's hand; but as he inspected it closely the truth forced itself upon him—that indentation in the middle of the barrel had been made by his rifle. He was not surprised that the sheriff should have kept the robber's revolver, but why did he insist on Owen's examining it?
"Come, my boy," said the sheriff, "is there no strange mark on that there barrel?"
"A small one, just in the center."
"Something like a bullet mark, I reckon."
"Yes, sir," said Owen, with a laugh, for he now began to suspect that either Mr. Lane or some of the other travelers had seen him when he stepped from behind the tree to fire at Stayford's pistol.