He put on a gruff, official tone; asked to talk to Shipton.

Gabriel paused, then added in a gruff tone, "He'd hoped to bring you and your sister back with him."

The fellow spoke in a gruff but friendly tone.

After a long wait, another man came on, his tone gruff and concerned.

The computer accepted his gruff tone without affront and offered him the list of new messages.

Joe spoke at last, a little embarrassed and in a gruff tone.

The gruff tone told him he'd been correct in his guess, but only just.

Then he had added in a gruff, offhanded tone, "Pay you a visit, maybe."

The boy blanched at the giant man's gruff tone but did not reply.

That response came in the gruff tones of an older woman.