“He was out by the hitch-rack. Hank Pitts almost stepped on him, Hartley. There was a shot fired out there awhile ago, but nobody investigated it.”
“That was the shot I heard,” muttered Hashknife. He got to his feet and stood fretfully looking down at Sleepy.
“I seen him in the restaurant a while ago,” said Ted Ames, a short, fat-faced cowboy from the 7AL.
Hashknife nodded. He knew that Sleepy had gone to supper with Roaring Rigby. Roaring came in and shoved his way to Hashknife. His arms were still wet from washing Wind River’s head.
“How bad is he hurt, Hashknife?” he asked.
“Bad enough. They’ve gone for the doctor. Wasn’t Sleepy eatin’ supper with you, Roarin’?”
“He shore was. I stopped to talk with Jeff Ryker, and Sleepy went out. While I was talkin’ to Ryker I heard that shot out near the hitch-rack, and then I heard the one that hit Wind River Jim. I came out, tryin’ to find out what was goin’ on, and crossed the street. That’s when I met you.”
“Who shot Wind River Jim?” asked a cowboy.
“The same man who tried to kill me,” said Hashknife savagely.
“F’r God’s sake!” exploded some one. “’S gittin’ salty around here.”