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
stirrups? Between believing in such a strange coincidence and that
you did it, I'll be hanged if I don't believe you did it."
"I don't blame you," said Ranson. "What can I do to set your mind at
rest?"
"Well, tell me exactly what persons knew that you meant to hold up
the stage."
"Curtis and Crosby; no one else.
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