A quarter of an hour later the Red Flier drew up in its old berth alongside the hotel. Eliza got out and ran hurriedly to tell Legree what had happened to the tin box.
"I'm sorry for Eliza," said Matt, climbing slowly over the brakes as he got out of the car. "She's a nice girl, and it's too bad she has to feel all cut up over the way the box was taken from her. I've got a notion that Legree is fooling them all—and you and me into the bargain, Carl."
"How you t'ink so, Matt?" asked Carl, opening his eyes wide.
"I don't know how he's doing it, or why he's doing it, but it's just a hunch I've got."
"How long ve going to shtay here?"
"I don't want to pull out until we learn something more about this business. There are parts of it that have a crooked look to me."
At that moment Legree issued from the hotel. He did not act at all excited, although he must certainly have learned from Eliza what had happened.
"Eliza's been telling me what a time you've had," said he. "The principal thing is that Brisco has left the car and got onto a horse. I was surprised to hear that. I can't imagine why a rascal, who's as badly wanted as he is, should leave a swift automobile and take to horseback."
"I should think, Mr. Legree," remarked Matt, "that you would be more interested in the loss of that box than in anything else."
"Not at all. In fact, I haven't thought so much of that box since the lot of us left Ash Fork. It was a good thing to hang onto, but it wasn't so terribly important. I've told Eliza not to feel bad over what happened. I'd feel worse myself if the kid hadn't got away in that runabout, like he did."