I looked back at Papa. His face
had gone white, and he was hardly breathing a-tall! He reached to
jerk his hat off its hook.
"Come on, Sheriff! Let's go! I'm just as anxious as anybody
to get this tangle straight! Once and for all!" As Papa started
toward the door, he stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out
his keys. He handed them to Uncle Dan.
"Dan, I'll have to get you to lock up for me."
"Sure, Jodie, if you say so."
"Papa, you going to town?"
"That's right, sugar."
"But you gotta see all my shells first!" I grabbed my best
shell and ran to Papa. "Stray did give me his newest one, Papa!
The one outta Mister Hawk's gun when he was shooting Mister Ward.
It still smells good, too! See?"
I held the shell up for Papa to smell. He wouldn't take it.
He just stood there looking down at me.
"Smell of it, Papa! Stray saw Mister Hawk drop it and-"
Papa grabbed me up and whirled around to face Mister Hawk.
"What do you think now, Mister Hawk? You still say little
young'uns tell the truth?"
Mister Hawk began to laugh.
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