“I begin to see how your account against Oliva stands,” he remarked. “But is that the only entry in your book?”
“I guess not,” Payne replied. “Mr. Brandon’s name is there, but the entry is against myself. It was a straight fight when he had me fired, and he took me back when he found I was down and out.”
Jake nodded. “You have already warned Brandon that he might be in some danger in the town.”
“That’s so. Since then, I reckoned that they were getting after him here, but we were more likely to hold them up if they didn’t know we knew. That’s why I called out to show I thought it was Pepe who was in the shack.”
“Very well,” said Jake. “There’s nothing more to be done in the meantime, but you’d better tell me if you find out anything else.”
Payne went away and when Dick came in Jake took him into his room and indicated the blotter.
“Have you torn off the top sheet in the last few days?”
“I don’t remember doing so, but now I come to look, it has been torn off.”
“What have you been writing lately?”
“Orders for small supplies, specifications of material, and such things.”