"I only want to celebrate," said Ranson, meekly. "I'm a very happy
man; I'm the happiest man on earth. I want to ride across the prairie
shooting off both guns and yelling like a cowboy. Instead of which I
am locked up indoors and have to talk to you about a highway robbery
which does not amuse me, which does not concern me--and of which I
know nothing and care less. Now, YOU are detailed to prove me
innocent. That's your duty, and you ought to do your duty, But don't
drag me in. I've got much more important things to think about."

Bewilderment, rage, and despair were written upon the face of the
captain.

"Ranson!" he roared. "Is this a pose, or are you mad? Can't you
understand that you came very near to being hanged for murder and
that you are in great danger of going to jail for theft? Let me put
before you the extremely unpleasant position in which you have been
ass enough to place yourself. You don't quite seem to grasp it. You
tell two brother-officers that you are going to rob the stage. To do
so you disguise yourself in a poncho and a red handkerchief, and you
remove the army-stirrups from your stirrup-leathers. You then do rob
this coach, or at least hold it up, and you are recognized. A few
minutes later, in the same trail and in the same direction you have
taken, there is a second hold-up, this time of the paymaster. The man
who robs the paymaster wears a poncho and a red kerchief, and he has
no stirrups in his stirrup-leathers. The two hold-ups take place
within a half-mile of each other, within five minutes of each other.
Now, is it reasonable to believe that last night two men were hiding
in the buttes intent upon robbery, each in an army poncho, each
wearing a red bandanna handkerchief, and each riding without