“I know,” said Sleepy drowsily, “that there’s two damn fools in Hawk Hole, and you’re both of ’em, Hashknife.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you was right,” sighed Hashknife.
And while Hashknife lay awake trying to puzzle out some of the mysteries of Hawk Hole, Doctor Meline, Jack Meline, Lee Yung, and Baldy Kern sat in the K-10 ranch-house debating over their next move.
Jack had overheard Hashknife’s conversation with McGurk, which proved to them that Hashknife knew something of the missing cargo. But Jack was unable to say whether or not the Tumbling H crew had been away from the ranch that night.
His room had been nearer the front of the house, but he thought that no one could move about in the house without making much noise, because of the creaking floors and stairs. He had heard no conversation which might connect them in any way with the hijacking.
“Hartley is our man,” declared Doctor Meline. “He knows.”
“And he is no fool,” said Lee Yung. “I have watched him.”
“And I’d like to pay him back for that deal the other night,” said Baldy, indicating his bandaged wrist. “But I don’t know just how to work it. Hartley is no fool, that’s a cinch.”
“We could force him to tell,” suggested Jack.