“Very well,” said Sedgwick quickly, in the tone of one who accepts instructions. “I’ll be still enough. Go ahead and do the talking.”
“Better both keep still,” advised the deceived sheriff. “Anything you say can be used against you at the trial. And the penalty for body-snatching is twenty years in this state.”
“Yes; but what constitutes body-snatching?” murmured Kent.
“You do, I guess,” retorted the humorous sheriff. “Steady with those hands. Which pocket, please, Professor?”
“Right-hand coat, if you want my money,” answered the scientist sullenly.
“Nothing like that,” laughed the officer. “Your gun will do, at present.”
“I haven’t got any gun.”
“I heard you say it! Remember, mine is pointed at your stomach.”
“Correct place,” approved Kent, quietly shifting his weight to his left foot. “It’s the seat of human courage. Well!” as Schlager tapped pocket after pocket, without result, “you can’t say I didn’t warn you. Now, Frank!”
With the word there was a sharp spat as the heel of Kent’s heavy boot, flying up in the coup de pied of his own devising, caught the sheriff full on the wrist breaking the bones, and sending the revolver a-spin into the darkness. As instantly Sedgwick struck, swinging full-armed, and Schlager went down, half-stunned.