“They’re plugging up every trail into the Creeping Shadows country. Lucky thing I know an old one that’s been forgotten by everyone except myself and Adam Marks.”
“Maybe the rustlers are using that one to get the cattle out,” suggested Chuck.
“I’d know if they were sending cattle out that way,” replied Old Bill.
Chuck unwrapped a package the cattleman tossed toward him. It contained a change of trousers and a shirt of plain blue material.
“Why this isn’t even new,” protested Chuck.
“Of course not. Think I want you going into the valley with a brand new outfit when you’re supposed to be a cowboy who’s nearly broke and willing to work for just about any kind of a wage? I got the shirt and pants from an old clothes dealer. They’re clean. Put them on.”
Chuck mournfully took off his brightly checked shirt and in its place pulled the blue one over his head. The trousers were too large even for Chuck, but they would do.
“How about the boots?” asked Slim.
“I got in an awful jam,” confessed Old Bill. “I knew your size but I forgot to ask Chuck what size he wore so I just got the biggest in the store.”
Slim found that the boots Old Bill had brought fitted comfortably. Like the shirt and trousers for Chuck, the boots were from a second hand store, and as a result were well broken in.