Stamford did not reply immediately. He had a thought of throwing himself frankly on Bean's affection. It was certain that Bean could tell him what he wished to know—much more certain than that he would. But the three fruitless weeks of search on the H-Lazy Z called for desperate measures. He was debating it when Bean spoke again in an ominous tone.
"'Cos what yer doin' 's a mighty dangerous game."
"Dangerous? Do you know what I'm trying to do?"
"I'm just givin' yu a warnin', boss, that's all. It's like to end at the business end of a gun."
Stamford made a decision.
"The H-Lazy Z is crammed with mysteries. If you——"
"An' the less yu understand them the better fer yer skin. An' it shore ain't no business o' yours."
"It is my business that my best friend was murdered."
"Best leave that to the Police."
"But they're doing nothing."