[They are about to drag him from the bar].
THE SHERIFF [rising, pistol in hand] Hands off that man. Hands
off him, I say, Squinty, or I drop you, and would if you were my
own son. [Dead silence], I'm Sheriff here; and it's for me to say
when he may lawfully be hanged. [They release him].
BLANCO. As the actor says in the play, "a Daniel come to
judgment." Rotten actor he was, too.
THE SHERIFF. Elder Daniel is come to judgment all right, my lad.
Elder: the floor is yours. [The Elder rises]. Give your evidence.
The truth and the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help
you God.
ELDER DANIELS. Sheriff: let me off this. I didn't ought to swear
away this man's life. He and I are, in a manner of speaking,
brothers.
THE SHERIFF. It does you credit, Elder: every man here will
acknowledge it. But religion is one thing: law is another. In
religion we're all brothers. In law we cut our brother off when
he steals horses.
THE FOREMAN. Besides, you neednt hang him, you know. Theres
plenty of willing hands to take that job off your conscience. So
rip ahead, old son.
STRAPPER. Youre accountable to me for the horse until you clear
yourself, Elder: remember that.
BLANCO. Out with it, you fool.
ELDER DANIELS. You might own up, Blanco, as far as my evidence
goes. Everybody knows I borrowed one of the Sheriff's horses from
Strapper because my own's gone lame. Everybody knows you arrived
in the town yesterday and put up in my house.
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