“Why, yes, it was a woman that first tol’ them that Ramerrez was in the camp to rob The Polka,” Sonora informed her, though his tone showed plainly his surprise at being compelled to repeat a thing which, he wrongly believed, she already knew.
“We saw her at The Palmetto,” leered Rance.
“And we missed the reward,” frowned Ashby; at which Rance quickly turned upon the speaker with:
“But Ramerrez is trapped.”
There was a moment’s startled pause in which the Girl struggled with her passions; at last, she ventured:
“Who’s this woman?”
The Sheriff laughed discordantly.
“Why, the woman of the back trail,” he sneered.
“Nina Micheltoreña! Then she does know ’im—it’s true—it goes through me!” unwittingly burst from the Girl’s lips.
The Sheriff, evidently, found the situation amusing, for he laughed outright.