“But the truth will come out some time. Who was that Dick?”
Hurley told him. He went further and told of the interest the cabaret singer had shown in the gambler for some time previous to Dick’s disappearance—before Nell had gone to Hoskins to sing in the Tin Can Saloon.
“It—it looks bad,” faltered Hunt.
“Bad is no name for it.”
“The girl should be questioned.”
“Not by me!” cried Hurley. “I don’t think Tolley will run the risk of speaking to her about it,” he added.
“He has already,” said Hunt.
He explained about what he and Betty had overheard pass between Nell Blossom and the owner of the Grub Stake the evening previous.
“Great saltpeter!” gasped Hurley. “Then that’s why Nell cut that caper just now. She didn’t do it just for deviltry. She was warning Tolley on her own hook.”
“Joe, there must be no bloodshed over this. If one man has died, that is enough,” Hunt said sternly. “We must get at the truth.”