“He was cool now and got his color back.

“‘Did Smithers find a gun?’ he asked; and I told him to ask Smithers when he saw ’im.”

“Wha’ ’d he say?” inquired Guy, as Artie paused in his narrative.

“He said he would, but he denied he’d lost a gun. Smithers wasn’t in, so he said he’d come back again and went away.”

“You’re sure he’s the highwayman?”

“You’ve got all the evidence I have. What do you think about it?”

“It looks funny. What are you going to do about it?”

“Oh, nothing I guess. Let’s go an’ see Smithers.”

“All right, if it isn’t too late.”

“It’s only twenty minutes to nine. He won’t go to bed for an hour yet.”