Dully Houston turned back to the sheriff and to the goggle-eyed Ba'tiste, trying to fathom it all.

Weakly he motioned toward Thayer, and his words, when they came, were hollow and expressionless: "That's a lie, Sheriff.

I'll admit that I have been accused of murder.
I was acquitted.

You say that nothing counts but the court action--and that's all I have to say in my behalf.

The jury found me not guilty.
In regard--to this, I'll obey the court order until I can prove to the judge's satisfaction that this whole thing is a fraud and a fake.