“I remember them words particular clear, because I didn’t see how even a spineless gent like Jig could stand for such a pile of insult.  But he just sort of smiled with his lips and got steady with his eyes, like he was sort of grieved.

“‘I want a gun that’ll kill a man,’ he says to Shorty.

“Shorty and me both laughed, but, when Shorty brung out a forty-five, doggone me if Jig didn’t buy the gun.

“‘Look here,’ says he, ‘is this the way it works?’

“And he raises it up in his skinny hand.  I had to laugh.

“‘Hold it in both hands,’ says I.

“‘Oh,’ says he, and darned if he didn’t take it in both hands.

“‘It seems much easier to handle in this way,’ says he.

“But that’s what I seen.  I seen him buy a gun to kill a man.  Them was his words, and I figure they’re a mouthful.”

Larsen retired.

“Damagin’ evidence, they ain’t no question,” said Mr. Clerk severely.  “But I can lay over it, your honor.”

“Blaze away, judge.”

Larsen took the oath.  “I’m going to show you they was bad feelings between the prisoner and the dead man, your honor.  I was over to the dance at the Woodville schoolhouse a couple of weeks ago.  Jig was there, not dancing or nothing, but sitting in a corner, with all the girls, mostly, hanging around him.  They kept hanging around looking real foolish at him, and Jig looks back at ’em as if they wasn’t there.  Well, it riles the boys around these parts.  Quade comes up to him and takes him aside.

“‘Look here,’ he says, ’why don’t you dance with one girl instead of hogging them all?’

“‘I don’t dance,’ says Jig.

“‘Why do you stay if you won’t dance?’ asks Quade.

“‘It is my privilege,’ says Jig, smiling in that ornery way of his, like his thoughts was too big for an ordinary gent to understand ’em.

“‘You stay an’ dance an’ welcome,’ says Quade, ’but if you won’t dance, get out of here and go home where you belong.  You’re spoiling the party for us, keeping all the girls over here.’

“‘Is that a threat?’ says Jig, smiling in that way of his.

“’It sure is.  And most particular I want you to keep away from Sally Bent.  You hear?’

“‘You take advantage of your size,’ says Jig.

“‘Guns even up sizes,’ says Quade.

“‘Thank you,’ says Jig.  ‘I’ll remember.’

“Right after that he went home because he was afraid that Quade would give him a dressing.  But they was bad feelings between him and Quade.  They was a devil in them eyes of Jig’s when he looked at big Quade.  I seen it, and I knowed they’d be trouble!” Lodge then retired.

“Gents,” said his honor, “it looks kind of black for the prisoner.  We know that Gaspar had a grudge agin’ Quade, and that he bought a gun big enough to kill a man.  It sure looks black for you, Gaspar.”

The prisoner looked steadily at Sinclair.  There was something unsettling in that gaze.