“You’re not hinting that Marks is rustling his own cattle?”
“I’m not hinting at a thing,” replied Old Bill sharply. “I’m simply telling you the facts. No one must know you have any possible association with me. That’s why I asked both of you to meet me on this lonely trail.”
“I was ‘met’ all right,” said Chuck.
“That worries me,” said Old Bill. “It makes it a lot harder for you boys. The gang operating in the Creeping Shadows must figure I’ll be sending in more men and have every incoming trail picketed.”
“But they never gave me a chance.”
“This gang won’t.”
“When do you want us to start for the valley?” asked Slim.
Old Bill was silent for a time.
“We’ve got to get a horse for Chuck and new boots for both of you,” he said at last. “Then I’d better get a complete change of clothes for Chuck. That’s a pretty loud shirt he’s wearing and it might be a give-away when he reaches the valley, especially if those hombres got a good look at it. I think you better have your hair cropped close, too, Chuck. That would change your appearance a lot.”
“You mean it would ruin my manly beauty,” howled Chuck. “Who’s going to do all this barbering, anyway?”