“No, I don’t want to go out there,” he said.
“I guess I better go home to Minnie.”
He walked out of the office and Breezy whistled softly.
“Ain’t that funny? Why, the other day he was shore strong for Len. I don’t savvy what changed him so quick.”
“Was he very fond of Prentice?” asked Hashknife.
“I don’t believe he was,” answered the sheriff. “I don’t believe Prentice cared much for him. Yuh don’t suppose the kid thinks that Len killed Prentice, do yuh? That might make him afraid of Len. Somebody might have told him that Len was the one who done the shootin’.”
“That would be a dirty trick,” said Hashknife quickly.
“Dirty tricks have been done,” smiled Breezy. “I wouldn’t put it past Amos Baggs.”
Nobody reproved Breezy for that statement. But Hashknife wasn’t satisfied. He left the office and made his way up to the Prentice home, where he found Larry in the yard. “No wind yet,” said the boy. “I reckon we won’t get any to-day.”
“Not much chance,” smiled Hashknife, leaning on the fence. “I wanted to ask yuh a question, Larry.”