Two men came panting into the crowd. “We can’t find the sheriff,” they announced. “His horses are gone from his stable; so he must be out of town.”
“Aw, he couldn’t find the hole in a doughnut, anyway,” said one of the men.
“And his deputy is at Encinas,” added one of the men who had gone after the sheriff. “We found that out at the Oasis.”
“Anyway, there’s no use chasin’ hold-up men at night,” said Le Moyne. “Nobody knows which way they went. They probably had their horses planted near where the safe was busted, and by now they’re miles away. What I’d like to know is this: Who in —— knew that the pay-roll was comin’ in tonight?”
No one seemed to know the answer. Jim Legg moved in beside a man and asked him where the hold-up had taken place.
“The train that jist came in from Encinas,” said the man.
“This last one?”
“——, there’s only one a day, stranger.”
Jim Legg turned away, leading Geronimo on a short piece of rope, and headed up the street, looking for a hotel.
“That messenger is the first liar I ever appreciated,” he told the dog. “I’m a great big son-of-a-gun, I am, and I tried to pull a gun. I’ll bet Ananias turned over in his grave tonight.”