Gopher chewed his cud impassively. "Sure I can, and I been earning mine. By the way, howcome you to be beat up so bad, Mr. Elliot?"
"I had a fight with the robbers."
"Sure it wasn't with the robbed. That split lip of yours looks to me plumb like Mac's John Hancock."
Elliot flushed angrily. "Of course if you intend to believe me guilty—"
"Now, there ain't no manner o' use in gettin' het up, young fellow. Mebbe you did it; mebbe you didn't. Anyhow, you'll gimme that gat you been toting these last few days."
Gordon's hand moved toward his hip. Then he remembered.
"I haven't it. I left it—"
"You left it at the ford—with one shell empty. That's where you left it," interrupted the officer.
"Yes. I fired at Northrup as he rushed me."