“Look at them and see if yuh recognize either one,” says he.
There’s something familiar about one of them but the other one is a complete stranger. I can’t place the other one, but there’s a trace some place.
“That’s ‘Kid’ Corey,” says he. “This other one is ‘Blazer’ Bailey. They’re a clever pair. Artists in the hold-up line. I’m a Federal officer. They been grabbing off a lot of registered mail lately, and the last stunt they pulls off was over on the main line. The Kid got hit, but somehow they both got away and headed across the divide in this direction. You been having so much trouble over here that I decides to look into it. It may not be them—don’t look like their work, ’cause your cases have all been one man.”
“Blazer is a big husky, but Corey wouldn’t cause yuh to look twice. He used to be a sort of a actor, I believe.”
“Well, I can’t help yuh much,” says I. “Yuh see I ain’t connected with the sheriff’s office no more. Maybe the sheriff can give yuh some information, but I doubt it. I know everything he does and all that I naturally knows myself, but I can’t help yuh none.”
“I’ve heard some uncomplimentary things about the office,” he admits, “folks around here seems to bare their feelings. Much obliged anyway, Mister Harper.”
I goes down to the office to get my effects, when Magpie comes in. He sets down and pretends to read a paper.
“Where yuh been?” I asks, he yawns and folds up the paper. “Hunting around a little.”
I sets down on the table and rolls a smoke.
“Magpie,” says I, “what do yuh know about snakes?”