“This may prove worth while. He’s anxious to have me get it,” Carver decided, and as the case was restated he gathered the cause of Noll’s grievance.
Two days before, in mid-afternoon, the two Lassiters had become openly conspicuous and Noll had indulged in target practice in the street, whereupon Crowfoot, acting town marshal, had declared that such sports were out of season during the daylight hours and with the help of the sheriff had conducted the two Lassiters to the county jail—that structure serving also as a city prison—where they had languished till noon of the present day. Their urgent representations, delivered verbally to acquaintances who had chanced to pass the jail during the morning, had resulted in their release at noon.
“The alibi club is in session,” Carver told himself. “It’s real accommodating of Noll to stage a monologue just to deceive me. It’s cleared up some points I was hazy on. The town marshal, the sheriff and his deputies are still trailing with the old crowd. It works out like this: Wellman and Crowfoot jail the two Lassiters in view of the populace. After nightfall the two prisoners depart by the back stairs and make a hard ride to some point near Wharton, hole up there till afternoon and raid the bank, hide out again till after dark and make another hard ride back to Oval Springs. They’re safe in jail before dawn. This morning they comment through the bars to pedestrians passing the jail. A perfect alibi—unless Noll overacts his part and talks himself into trouble.”
He mused further on the subject as he waited for Noll to detach himself from the group.
“This deal signifies that every man round the sheriff’s office is cutting in with the boys,” he reflected. “Wellman has appointed the two Ralston brothers deputies in addition to Freel. The fourth party in that Wharton hold-up was likely one of the Ralston boys.”
Noll eventually moved toward the door but the others accompanied him. Carver followed them out and called to Noll.
“Just a minute,” he said. “I have a bit of news to impart.”
Noll turned back and stood facing him while the others halted a few feet away. Carver lowered his voice so his words would not reach them.
“You’ve tried for me twice,” he said. “From now on it’s reversed.”
“What d’you mean?” Noll demanded.