“Ace is really my son, and it just slipped out,” the judge apologized. He looked sternly at Ace. “You kept your word?”
“Sure thing. Bill, here, never heard a word about the Wolf until we came in here,” Ace replied.
“That’s true, gentlemen,” Anderson corroborated him.
The sheriff doubted both of them. He considered swiftly. He could not reach Allen now and warn him not to come. Dutchy had gone downtown. If he himself left to find Allen he might miss him. Better to remain here and help the Wolf when he came.
Bill Anderson regarded the waiting circle sardonically. “I’ve always been curious to see Jim-twin Allen,” he said. “You’ll forgive me if I mention that an alliance between a judge, a sheriff, and an outlaw has its humorous side.”
“You’re quite right,” said the judge thoughtfully. “But if he can help us we are justified in allying ourselves with him.”
“If he was the devil and could lead us into the lava fields I’d follow, hanging onto his tail,” said the sheriff.
“If what I hears is true, that he can follow trail like an Apache or a bloodhound, I’m bettin’ he can lead us through them lava fields,” Sam Hogg cried warmly.
“You fellows are wastin’ your time,” Ace Cutts put in. “He ain’t got nerve enough to come here.”
“Yuh mean he ain’t big enough fool to come into a town filled with gents what is longin’ to plug him,” Jim Hogg corrected.