But when he did so he was amazed to find that Collinson's face was almost as much disturbed as his own.
"I know it ain't the square thing to ask ye, but this is how it is," said Collinson hesitatingly.

"Ye see just down by the fork of the trail where you came I picked up a woman's shoe.

It sorter got me! For I sez to myself, 'Thar ain't no one bin by my shanty, comin' or goin', for weeks but you boys, and that shoe, from the looks of it, ain't bin there as many hours.' I knew there wasn't any wimin hereabouts.

I reckoned it couldn't hev bin dropped by Uncle Dick or that other man, for you would have seen it on the road.

So I allowed it might have bin YOU.