They told him briefly of what had happened at the railroad and how they had set fire to the rustlers’ hideout.
“Plenty good,” the Chinaman grinned, giving them extra portions of bacon. “Plenty good.”
Before they left the line camp, Slim wrote a note to Joe Haines. He had slipped badly, having forgotten to tell Pat Beals that rustlers were still stationed on three trails leading out of the valley.
It was this information he left in the note, urging Joe to send riders out at once to capture the other rustlers.
Then Slim and Chuck pressed on. Dawn found them nearing Dirty Water and the village was just beginning to show signs of life when they rode across the creek and tied their horses at the rail in front of the Palace Hotel.
“They eat early here,” said Slim. “You stay outside and be ready to take care of any of the boys who decide to get away in a hurry.”
“You’re not going into the hotel alone,” protested Chuck.
“I’m going to do that very thing,” said Slim with a definiteness that Chuck knew was final. “I’m counting on you to discourage them if they get outside. Remember, we want Hal Titzell, Leo Kovec and Maxie Denkman.”
“I’ll remember,” promised Chuck.
Slim looked up and down the street. Pike Carberry and Jim Ferris were coming down from Carberry’s store for breakfast at the hotel. They greeted Slim cordially.