"How do you know he fell there?"
Loring Blade shrugged again. "He laid a while before he started to drag himself out. There was plenty of evidence."
"Now here's a point, Lorin'. I've already said I was in Coon Valley today. Suppose I had my pouch, couldn't I have lost it when I passed the sycamores?"
"You could have."
"What time did you go up Coon Valley?" Jack Callahan broke in.
"'Twas before eight. I started early."
"Then you crossed back to the Fordham Road?"
"Don't try to snarl my words up," Al warned. "I've already said that I went up Coon Valley to its head and crossed back of Burned Mountain to the Fordham Road."
"But you heard no shooting?"
Al seemed a little contemptuous. "You ever make that crossin'?"