“Not me. He’s harder ter keep track of than the Irishman’s flea. But, with all his comin’s an’ goin’s, I kin tell him he’s goin’ ter pay fer the meals he misses, an’ the bunks he hires an’ don’t sleep in.”
“Have you seen my pard recently?”
“I hevn’t seen him, nuther. Mebby he went off with Smith? Your pards hev a great habit of walkin’ off with Smith and not comin’ back ag’in. Wild Bill did it last night, an’ mebby Nomad did it while you was rubbin’ liniment on yer hoss.”
“Did you see Nomad going off with Smith?”
“Nary. I ain’t seen either one of ’em since they was here in front o’ my place an’ you was talkin’ with Smith.”
“I’m going away for a little while,” said the scout, “and if Nomad returns while I am gone, tell him to stay here and wait for me.”
“Sure I will.”
The scout took to the horse-trail and moved off toward the slope leading down into the cañon.
What he wanted just now was to locate Smith. Had the fellow, fearing discovery at the scout’s hands, skipped out?
Nomad had not suspected Smith of being other than he seemed any more than had the scout. Had Smith taken advantage of this and lured Nomad away, just as he might have lured Wild Bill?