Thornton described the man, guessed at his age, and told what he knew of "Rattlesnake" Pollard. Comstock seemed interested in a mild sort of a way, but neither now nor later, as Thornton spoke of other men, did he give any sign of more than mild interest.
"Who are Pollard's friends?" was the next question.
Thornton named Ben Broderick, two other men who do not come into the story, and Cole Dalton, the sheriff. And as he named them, Comstock asked him to give an estimate at their ages, to tell what he knew of them and to give as close a personal description as he could.
Having finished with Pollard and his friends he spoke of the Bedloe boys. And United States Deputy Marshal Comstock listened throughout with the same mild interest, merely asking questions, offering no opinions.
"One last question," he said finally. "If you had a guess who'd you say was the bad man this county wants?"
"If any stock's missing from my range," was the blunt answer, "I'd look up the Bedloe outfit."
Comstock, offering no opinion, smiled and sank into a thoughtful silence.
At half past nine o'clock Thornton got to his feet and took up his hat.
"I'd better be riding," he said, putting out his hand. "Make yourself at home."
But Comstock came to the door with him.