“Vat it iss, bard?” queried the inquisitive baron.
“He’s goin’ ter hang eround ther Brazos an’ lay fer Red Steve. Steve was erbout ther fust ruffian the scout got acquainted with on the Brazos, an’ I reckon he’s plannin’ ter make Steve ther last, as well.”
“Red Steve richly deserves punishment for his misdeeds,” said the scout. “I couldn’t leave the Brazos while Red Steve was still at large without feeling I had failed in my duty.”
“Same here,” seconded the Laramie man. “But don’t you forget, Pard Cody, that I’ve marked Red Steve for my own. He and I are going to come together, before many days, and then he’ll go to some place where the law’s doing its regulation work and answer for Ace Hawkins.”
“The law’s in full bloom in Hackamore, Hickok,” laughed the scout.
“It’s not the sort of Bloom that spells right and justice. The sheriff in Hackamore is working for the Benners, if I’m any judge.”
“Bloom has always been hand-and-glove with Lige Benner,” said Perry. “And he has never been a friend of Nate’s and mine. He was only too willing, I’ll warrant you, to arrest Nate for taking those diamonds.”
“Ten to one,” spoke up Wild Bill, “Jerry Benner gave Bloom his cue before Abe Isaacs made his howl about the stones being stolen.”
“Ther hull thing sounds like er frame-up, from start ter finish,” dropped in old Nomad. “Thet Jerry Benner must er had a powerful head ter set a thing like thet ter goin’.”
“That head of his will get Lige Benner into trouble, one of these days,” averred Wild Bill.