"
The sergeant came. "Say," said Charlie. "Did you ask this boy any
questions?"
"No," said the sergeant, "I'm waiting for the chief."
"Well, did you know that girl came from Albert Lockman's place?"
"Good God, no!"
"He says she was there to dinner and Lockman turned her out of the
house. This boy says he works for Lockman."
"Well, I'm damned!" exclaimed the sergeant. And so Samuel was led into
a private room.
A minute or two later "the chief" strode in. McCullagh was his name
and he was huge and burly, with a red face and a protruding jaw. He
went at Samuel as if he meant to strike him. "What's this you're
givin' us?" he cried.
"Why--why--" stammered Samuel, in alarm.
"You're tryin' to tell me that girl came from Lockman's?" roared the
chief.
"Yes, sir!"
"And you expect me to believe that?"
"It's true, sir!"
"What're you tryin' to give me, anyhow?" demanded the man.
"But it's true, sir!" declared Samuel again.
"You tell me she was there at dinner?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Come! Quit your nonsense, boy!"
"But she was, sir!"
"What do you expect to make out of this, young fellow?"
"But she was, sir!"
Apparently the chief's method was to doubt every statement that Samuel
made, and repeat his incredulity three times, each time in a louder
tone of voice and with a more ferocious expression of countenance.
Then, if the boy stuck it out, he concluded that he was telling the
truth.
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