"So holp me God, I aims ter demand full payment fer this hyar day--but
I aims ter punish ther right man. Ye says ye only acted on orders from
an officer, don't ye?"
"Thet's true es text."
"All right then, ye hain't ther man I'm atter, ef that's so. Mistakes
will happen. As ter ther other feller, I kin bide my time fer a spell.
I reckon my wrath won't cool none."
The Station Agent heaved a sigh of relief. "Hit's a right unfortunate
thing," he declared sympathetically. "I've been studyin' erbout hit
an' I said ter myself, 'what ef some enemy of his'n sent both them
messages?'"
This seemingly innocent suggestion was by way of discounting the future
when Halloway learned that the town marshal knew nothing of the matter.
The operator bent and unfastened the binders about the ankles and
waist. That left only the handcuffs, and when he came to them once
more a note of apologetic anxiety crept into his voice.
"Ther key ter them things is lost," he deprecated. "Ther best I kin do
fer ye air ter file ther chain. Ye kin stick yore hands in yore
pockets, though, an' nobody won't see 'em.
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