"Then try Wood."
"Wood ain't at his best off the trail. Come to think about it, I'd rather trust Sinclair to you—that is, if you make up your mind to treat him square."
"Sheriff, I'll give him a squarer deal than you think."
Kern nodded.
"More coffee, Li!" he called.
Li obeyed with such haste that he overbrimmed the cup, and some of the liquid washed out of the saucer onto the floor.
"Coming back to shop talk," went on the sheriff, as Li mopped up the spilled coffee, mumbling excuses, "I ain't had a real chance to tell you what a fine job you done for us last night, Arizona."
Arizona, with due modesty, waved the praise away and stepped to the container of matches hanging beside the stove. He came back lighting a cigarette and contentedly puffed out a great cloud.
"Forget all that, sheriff, will you?"
"Not if I live to be a hundred," answered the sheriff with frank admiration.