Why does Gifford focus his question about Ownby on a storekeep named Huffaker?

Gifford is questioning a storekeep named Huffaker about Ownby. Huffaker tells him that Ownby comes by the store occasionally, but not in any predictable fashion. He asks if the old man is in any trouble, but Gifford does not reveal anything; he just says he needs to talk to him about something. Gifford returns each day--evidently, he does not think there is much hope of finding Ownby out in the wilderness--hoping to catch him. After about a week, Ownby finally shows up and Gifford arrests him.