“Who do you think killed him, Larry?” countered Hashknife.

“I don’t know who killed him.”

“And you never even heard anybody hint that your father might have killed Prentice?”

After a moment of sober thought the boy shook his head.

“I didn’t know they thought he did,” said Larry.

“Thank yuh for answerin’ my question, Larry.”

“You’re welcome, Mr. Hartley. I hope we get some wind.”

“Yeah, I shore hope so. So long, Larry.”

“So long, Mr. Hartley.”

Hashknife went away unsatisfied. There was some reason why Larry did not want to go to Len; and Hashknife would never be comfortable until he had discovered who shot Charley Prentice—and why. He felt that Len Ayres was perfectly capable of killing a man, but he did not think that Ayres would ever commit murder.