"It would be a lot of money," he muttered to himself, as he nervously gulped the brandy down, "and it would hit her hard. Go ahead, Levy. Draw up your damned paper and I'll sign it. Never knew I was so popular, anyhow."
Levy left him for a few moments while he dictated the affidavit, returning to his private office while the stenographer was writing out her notes.
"I don't suppose you know anything about the personal affairs of Mrs.
Buckner-Gorham which would be of assistance to us in this case, do you?"
Buckner thought hard. Ideas came slowly to him in his present condition, but at last he looked up with an expression which interested the lawyer.
"She thought herself too good for me," he muttered, "but there is something I should like to have her explain," he said.
"And what is that?" Levy asked, quickly jumping at a possible clew.
"After she found me in the trail she disappeared for two weeks before she returned to her father's ranch, and I should like to know where she spent that time."
"Where do you think she spent it?"
"I don't know for sure, but there are people who say she was with a prospector in his shack four or five miles from my ranch. I didn't hear about it until afterward; but, anyhow, there was a man rode back with her to her father's ranch who got her into the hospital in Denver after she found her father was dead. She thinks she's better than I am, but, just the same, I'd like to know who that man was."
Levy quickly made a few notes. "I think I may be able to assist you in gratifying that desire," he remarked.