A lighted bomb, hurled suddenly into the shack, could not have startled either of the two men more than did this question.
It was a random shot on Matt's part. He wanted both Newt and Murgatroyd to understand that he was well equipped with information.
"I didn't leave a single gambling debt behind me," asserted Newt, with rising indignation.
The broker became visibly uncomfortable.
"He's talking wild, Newt," said he.
"Then," continued Matt, "how did it happen that Murgatroyd had several duebills, signed by you?"
"He didn't have any signed by me."
"Of course not," agreed Murgatroyd, laughing derisively, but there were demons rising in his sharp eyes.
"Too bad your father didn't know that, Newt," said Matt. "He's been slaving, and denying himself necessities of life, to take up a lot of I O U's which, Murgatroyd told him, had been given by you for gambling debts."
Newt, his face full of rage, whirled on the broker in a fury.