“I’ve knowed horse-thieves to put up a hell of a race and a fight to get away,” said Sleepy innocently.
“The hell yuh have,” grunted McGurk. “You’ve been around quite a lot, ain’t yuh?”
“Twice,” said Sleepy.
“Around where?” asked Burns.
“Quite a lot.”
“All right,” said McGurk angrily. “This ain’t gettin’ us no place. We’ll search the place, Hawkworth. You know we’ve got the right to do this.”
“Certainly, McGurk. The Tumbling H has nothing to conceal.”
The three officers headed for the stable, while the men of the Tumbling H grouped together and followed them. They all knew, except Hashknife, that the officers were all wrong, and he felt sure that they would not find his cache.
Nor did they. After an hour of searching, which included the ranch-house, they were forced to admit that nothing had been overlooked. They were satisfied that the Tumbling H contained no contraband, but they were not contented.
“Yuh didn’t overlook any place, didja?” asked Hashknife, when the officers came back to their horses.