"I don't know. I didn't see her at all. I grappled with the first person I ran into. She must have gone out as you came in." Boyd indicated the side door, which was still ajar.
"It's a lie," screamed Marsh.
"It's the truth," stoutly maintained Emerson, "and there was a man with her, too. Who was she, Marsh? Who was the man?"
"She—she—I don't know."
"Don't lie."
"I'm hurt," reiterated the stricken man, feebly. Then, seeing the bewilderment in the faces about him, he burst out anew: "Don't stand there like a lot of fools. Why don't you get him?"
"If I stabbed him I must have had a knife," Emerson said, again checking the forward movement. "You may search me if you like. See?" He opened his coat and displayed his belt.
"He's got a six-shooter," some one said.
"Yes, and I may use it," said Emerson, quietly.
"Maybe he dropped the knife," said the watchman, and began to search about the floor, followed by the others.