“I suppose yuh want to learn what I found out. Maybe yuh recollect a hombre what used to hang out along the Texas border about seven years ago what called himself ‘le Diable à Cheval?’”
“Yuh betcha—and he was some devil, too,” the sheriff said.
“He used to steal girls over the border and hold ’em fer ransom,” Allen went on. “I followed the gent—the Devil on Horseback—for near a month, then I ketched him and downed him.”
The sheriff stared.
“He had four sons by four wives, and all four sons is right here in town. One of ’em ain’t far from us here.”
“You mean Pete Cable?” the sheriff demanded.
“Sure. That’s why the other three are raising such hell to keep Pete from stretching hemp. I betcha yuh could guess another if yuh thinks hard enough.”
Without a moment’s hesitation the sheriff answered. “The Toad! An’ I’d say I knew the third if he weren’t white.”
“Didn’t I tell yuh they had different mothers?” Allen grinned.
“Then Anderson did fix those bandages!” the sheriff cried with an oath. “Who’s the fourth?” he asked.