"You'd stand a fine show to do that," said Ted quietly. "On the other
hand, I've a mind to arrest you for the forcible entry of this house."
"You have, have you?" sneered the other. "You make me laugh, young
feller. You couldn't arrest a fly!"
Ted threw open his coat and showed that he, too, wore a star.
The leader of the posse leaned forward to read the authority on it.
"Who are you?" he asked huskily.
"I am Ted Strong."
"Then why didn't you stop Fancy Farnsworth?"
"What for? I have no knowledge of his having committed a crime, and,
besides, I have no warrant for him. Have you?"
"No. Didn't have time to get one. But that makes no difference. He
killed a woman, and as soon as I heard of it I got my posse together an'
hit his trail. If it hadn't been for you fellows I'd have got him."
"I don't think you would."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because he'd have killed two or three of you first."
"What about this crime, and why are you so sure he committed it?" asked
Major Caruthers. "I thought him a fine, gentlemanly, quiet young fellow,
and I'm somewhat of a judge of men myself. I can hardly believe that a
man of that stamp could commit so terrible a crime as woman murder. That
is the lowest degree of killing."
"He done it, just the same," said the deputy marshal positively.
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