"Wal, I have. I've shot dozens of skunks."
"You might lend me yours."
"I s'pose I might. It ain't, though, workin' very well right now. It's kinder rusty. Furthermore, I'm out of ammunition."
"That wouldn't matter. I ain't calculatin' to fire it."
"But you'll have to."
Elisha's mounting disapproval changed to consternation.
Turning, he faced Eleazer.
"Say, Eleazer," he faltered, "s'pose we was to make a deal on this thing. S'pose, for the time bein' I was to take over your job an' you was to take over mine. S'pose you did the arrestin'? This affair's a big one an' oughter be given all the frills a city policeman would give it. That's due the town. Now you seem to know a sight more 'bout how to manage it than I do."
"You put on the badge; you tell the thief to stick 'em up; you put the pistol 'twixt his shoulders, or wherever you think 'twill do the most good; an' you snap the handcuffs on him. I'll see you get full credit for it. Meanwhile, if there's a fire or an undertakin' job, I'll manage 'em somehow."
Eleazer shook his head.