“What did they say, Smithy?” he asked, and the tone of his voice seemed to quell all other sounds.
“Why, the skunks!” cried Smithy, “they said Nell Blossom shot Dick the Devil last spring and flung him over the wall of the canyon into Runaway River.”
CHAPTER XXI—THE DRAMA OF A LIE
The tense silence that followed Smithy’s half-sobbing speech marked the poignancy of the moment and the utter stupefaction of his hearers. To all but Joe Hurley and Hunt such an accusation as this aimed at Nell Blossom was entirely unlooked for. If the crowd understood anything at all, they understood that Boss Tolley, if he had started the scandal, courted annihilation!
Indeed the first question fired at Smithy following his statement was:
“Why didn’t you fill ’em with lead, Smithy?”
“I didn’t have no gun,” replied the grocery clerk. “And Tom Hicks downed me before I could get at Tolley.”
“Did he say it, Smithy?” demanded Colorado Brown.
“’Twas him says he knows all about it. Says that Nell killed Dick Beckworth.”
They talked. But it was Joe Hurley who acted. He threw down the hand of cards he held.