“Only four,” said Sleepy seriously. “The fifth one saw that he didn’t have a chance, so he shot himself.”
For a moment both the sheriff and deputy swallowed the story, but Hashknife’s grin reassured them that Sleepy was joking.
“I—I wouldn’t put it past yuh,” said Sunshine.
“After what the sheriff did to us at that inquest, I wouldn’t put anythin’ past a human bein’,” declared Hashknife. “It sure was one dirty trick.”
“Aw-w-w-w, ——!” blurted the sheriff, confused. “I—you two——”
“Absolutely,” interrupted Hashknife.
The sheriff’s confusion greatly amused Sunshine.
“Went off half-cocked, eh?” he said. “That’s the trouble with Sudden. That’s where he got his name; always gettin’ himself into a jam. Never thinks twice—that’s Sudden. That’s where he got his name, I tell yuh. Ha, ha, ha, ha!”
“Ha, ha, ha ——!” snapped Sudden angrily. “You never got yore name because of yore disposition, that’s a cinch.”
“Aw, that’s all right,” said Sunshine. “One thing, I don’t go and decide, too quick on a thing.”