“And plumb ruin our conscience,” declared Hashknife. “We’re goin’ back to bed and forget what we’ve seen and heard.”
They piled back into the hay, but not to sleep.
Jack Hartwell faced Eph King and the man he had knocked down, with a cocked six-shooter. He was still a trifle hazy with sleep, but managed to keep them the width of the room away.
“What do you want here?” he demanded.
“I want to see Molly,” said Eph King softly. “I heard tonight that she is in danger, Hartwell.”
Jack turned toward the bedroom door to call her, but she had thrown a wrap around herself and was opening the door as Jack turned. She blinked at her father.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” she asked.
“Hello, Molly. I came to see yuh, that’s all.”
“But, Dad, don’t you realize——?”
“I realized that my runaway daughter was in danger, so I came to find out just how real it is.”