“Kin savvy?” returned Hotchkiss, giving the local equivalent for the Mexican quien sabe—who knows? “A few of us what was left behind at Camp Hawtrey put our heads together and sort of made up our minds about somethin’. That’s mainly the reason I’m here, El. You see, the reason Jode’s down on a few of us is because we was stickin’ up for you. We told Jode flat that we didn’t take no stock in that forgery business, and reckoned you’d clear yourself some day. That made Jode madder’n hops. All those that kept their mouths shut Jode took to Tinaja Wells.”
Ballard was almost as deeply interested in Hotchkiss’ remarks as was Darrel. Here was a friend from the rival camp, and he brought news that might be of great value.
“Now,” pursued Hotchkiss, “us fellers that was left behind—barrin’ Bleeker—sort of made up our minds that the note Parkman’s totin’ maybe contains a clew about the forgery matter. Bleeker, as you know, El, has been mighty close to Jode for a couple o’ years or more. Them two was thicker’n two peas in a pod at the time the colonel turned you adrift. It looks to a few of us as though Bleek’s had an attack of conscience, or somethin’, and has put on paper a few things that may be pretty important to you. I was delegated to come over here, tell you about the note, and suggest a plan of action.”
“What plan?”
Darrel’s eyes were big and bright, and he rose on his right elbow and peered earnestly at Hotchkiss.
“Well, you got friends in the Ophir camp,” said Hotchkiss. “Have ’em get that note away from Parkman; or, if it’s too late to get it from Parkman, then have ’em take it from Jode.”
“It’s Lenning’s letter,” put in Ballard. “What business have Darrel’s friends with it?”
“If it comes to that, what business have Bleek and Len with evidence clearin’ Darrel of that forgery?”
“How do you know the letter contains anything like that?” demanded Ballard.
“I reckon us fellers in the Gold Hill camp ain’t deef, dumb, and blind,” bristled Hotchkiss. “We’ve kept our eyes and ears open, we have. A bunch of us is friends of El’s, here, and we allow he’s goin’ to clear himself. What Bleek knows about that forgery he’s put into that letter, more’n likely, and right here’s a chance for El to be cleared by a little snappy work. You see, Bleek’s so mad at Jode he won’t speak to him, and Jode’s so mad at Bleek he won’t take him to Tinaja Wells. Maybe he’s afeared, if Bleek was near Merriwell, that he’d split on the hull business.”