“Still suspicious, eh? Don’t blame you. Do you believe Jimmy Moran shot Moses Conley?”
“Don’t you?”
“I’d like your opinion.”
“Haven’t any. None of my business, Holmes. Must have been enough evidence to satisfy the sheriff.”
“It’s not hard to satisfy a sheriff,” said Moran slowly. “Holmes tells me that you have cleared up a lot of hard cases, Hartley. I didn’t know I was hiring a horse from a detective when I met you at Sibley Junction. I hired your horse and now I’d like to hire you. How about it?”
“I’m more or less of a cowpuncher,” said Hashknife. “I’m not a detective, Moran. Never pretended to be one.”
“Will you take this case?”
“What case?”
“Jimmy’s case.”
“Oh, yeah, Jimmy’s case. You mean—to try and prove he didn’t shoot Conley?”