"Indeed," politely. Then, curiosity consuming him, he hazarded another question:
"What did she say when she heard I was coming?"
"She laughed to kill herself." Pinkey seldom lied when the truth would answer.
In the meantime, Tucker, in guarded language, was informing Canby of the entry by telephone. From the sounds which came through the receiver he had the impression that the land baron was pulling the telephone out by the roots in his exasperation at the negligence of his hireling whom he had supposed had done sufficient work to hold it.
"I'll attend to it," he answered.
Tucker thought there was no doubt about that, and he had a worthy feeling of having earned the yearly stipend which he received from Canby for these small services.
"We'd better sift along and git out there," Pinkey advised when they were back at the Prouty House.
"To-day?"
"You bet you! That's no dream about Boise Bill bein' ugly, and he might try to hold the 160 if he got wind of your filing."
"In that event?"