"I am Motor Matt," said he.
"Sho," muttered the horseman; "hit it first clatter out o' the box, didn't I?"
After a cautious look around, he dismounted and thrust his arm through the loop of the bridle.
"What I got to say is private," said he, "an' I guess we better go off some'r's by ourselves."
"We couldn't talk with any more privacy if we were a hundred miles away. Where are you from, Mr. Hackberry?"
"From over in Wells County. Ye see, I got a claim over there, an'—— But say, are ye plumb sure it's safe fer us ter talk? I was warned ter look out fer Siwash Charley an' his friends, and fer any other tinhorns that might be workin' fer Murgatroyd."
"Who warned you?"
"Mrs. Traquair."
"Then you're from Jamestown?"
"Not much I ain't! Mrs. Traquair ain't in Jimtown. Say, what sort of a lookin' feller is this Siwash Charley?"