“And Charley Prentice drank himself out of a job since Len came back. Hardly ever took a drink before. Now he’s lost his job,” the deputy added.
“Scared that Ayres might kill him for what he done?”
“Looks thataway. Took to booze like a calf to milk. Makes it tough on the kid. But at that, I’ll betcha the kid would quit Prentice any time to go with Len.”
Hashknife nodded. “And you say that Amos Baggs was the prosecutor who sent Ayres to the pen?”
“Shore was.”
“Who was the sheriff—the same one you work for?”
“No-o-o. Harry Cole was sheriff then. He owns the Oasis Saloon and Gamblin’ Palace. His term ran out the followin’ year after Len went over the road.”
“Uh-huh. And Prentice was cashier of the bank when Len Ayres robbed it, eh?”
“Y’betcha. And then he turned around and married the wife of the man who robbed him. Kinda funny, eh?”
“Funny to us, I suppose,” said Hashknife slowly. “Fate is a queer thing.”