The Major’s face changed instantly and he said with quite obvious sarcasm:
“He’s busier than a man killin’ rattlesnakes, and he’s makin’ himself unpopular, I can tell you, tryin’ to stir up somethin’.”
Teeters looked at him wonderingly but said nothing; instead, he went out in search of the deputy.
Lingle was sitting dejectedly on the edge of the sidewalk when Teeters found him, and the deputy returned his spicy greeting dispiritedly.
“You look bilious as a cat,” said Teeters, eying him. “Why don’t you take somethin’?”
“You bet I’m bilious—the world looks plumb ja'ndiced!” the deputy answered, with feeling.
“What’s the matter?” Teeters sobered in sudden anxiety. “Ain’t the case—”
A frown grew between the deputy’s eyebrows.
“The case is gettin’ nowhere. Things don’t look right, and I can’t exactly put my finger on it.”
“What do you mean, Lingle?” quickly.