It was only talk on Johnny’s part, but the Basque chose to take it seriously.
“That’s all right wit’ me, Johnny.” Vin shook his head solemnly. “I don’ refuse you, Johnny.”
“Oh, how sweet those words, ‘I will lend you,’” Johnny said airily. “But not yet you won’t, señor. Little Johnny has plenty dinero. Is the old man gone?”
“Sí! Hobe and heem go half past five. Leetle while ago the old man come back alone an’ tak’ the train for Winnemucca.”
“Winnemucca?” Johnny Dice’s eyebrows lifted. Was Kent running away?
Hobe entered then to square the Diamond-Bar debt with the hotel. The barroom was deserted, and the foreman, peeking into the dining room, saw Johnny and Vin. He came in and settled himself in a chair opposite the former.
“Go and figure up yore bill, Vinnie,” he said to the Basque. When Vin had left, Hobe turned his inquisitive eyes to Johnny. “Last night was a terrible bust round here, wa’n’t it?”
“It’s all jake with me, Hobe. Don’t you fret.”
Ferris got up and walked back and forth a step or two, glum, his chin on his chest. “I reckon it ain’t all right with me, though. I ain’t exactly what you’d call a straw boss with this outfit—not after all these years. If it wa’n’t for the girl I’d ask for my time.”
Hobe propped back into his chair.