The Sheriff [to Strapper] You don’t say!

Strapper.  It’s here, I tell you.

Waggoner Jo.  It’s here all right enough, Sheriff.

Strapper.  And theyve got the thief too.

Elder Daniels.  Then it aint Blanco.

Strapper.  No:  it’s a woman. [Blanco yells and covers his eyes with his hands].

The whole crowd.  A woman!

The Sheriff.  Well, fetch her in. [Strapper goes out.  The Sheriff continues, to Feemy] And what do you mean, you lying jade, by putting up this story on us about Blanco?

Feemy.  I aint put up no story on you.  This is a plant:  you see if it isnt.

[Strapper returns with a woman.  Her expression of intense grief silences them as they crane over one another’s heads to see her.  Strapper takes her to the corner of the table.  The Elder moves up to make room for her.]

Blanco [terrified]:  that woman aint real.  You take care.  That woman will make you do what you never intended.  Thats the rainbow woman.  Thats the woman that brought me to this.

The Sheriff.  Shut your mouth, will you.  Youve got the horrors. [To the woman] Now you.  Who are you? and what are you doing with a horse that doesn’t belong to you?

The woman.  I took it to save my child’s life.  I thought it would get me to a doctor in time.  It was choking with croup.

Blanco [strangling, and trying to laugh] A little choker:  thats the word for him.  His choking wasn’t real:  wait and see mine. [He feels his neck with a sob].

The Sheriff.  Where’s the child?

Strapper.  On Pug Jackson’s bench in his shed.  He’s makin a coffin for it.

Blanco [with a horrible convulsion of the throat—­frantically] Dead!  The little Judas kid!  The child I gave my life for! [He breaks into hideous laughter].

The Sheriff [jarred beyond endurance by the sound] Hold you noise! will you?  Shove his neckerchief into his mouth if he don’t stop. [To the woman] Dont you mind him, maam:  he’s mad with drink and devilment.  I suppose theres no fake about this, Strapper.  Who found her?

Waggoner Jo.  I did, Sheriff.  Theres no fake about it.  I came on her on the track round by Red Mountain.  She was settin on the ground with the dead body on her lap, stupid-like.  The horse was grazin on the other side of the road.

The Sheriff [puzzled] Well, this is blamed queer. [To the woman] What call had you to take the horse from Elder Daniels’ stable to find a doctor?  Theres a doctor in the very next house.

Blanco [mopping his dabbled red crest and trying to be ironically gay] Story simply wont wash, my angel.  You got it from the man that stole the horse.  He gave it to you because he was a softy and went to bits when you played off the sick kid on him.  Well, I guess that clears me.  I’m not that sort.  Catch me putting my neck in a noose for anybody’s kid!