“Yeah, we sure did,” laughed Steen.
“But what in —— brought you two fellers up here, I’d like to know? Lookin’ for jobs? If yuh are, you’ve sure got ’em.”
“Yo’re just as comical as ever,” declared Hashknife. “We’re cowpunchers, you old blat-listener. Listen, Bill: We came up to tell yuh that yore boss is in jail at Totem City.”
“Eph King? In jail?”
Hashknife explained in detail, while the sheepmen crowded near to find out how it had happened.
“That’s sure a —— of a note,” said Steen seriously. “I was afraid somethin’ had happened to him, so I sent a man down there an hour ago to see if he could find out somethin’. This here sure is serious news, Hashknife. My ——, they’ll hang Eph King.”
“I’m kinda afraid they will, Bill. And they’ll hang Jack Hartwell along with him.”
“Why would they hang Jack Hartwell?”
“’Cause they think he is a spy for Eph King.”
“Oh, the —— fools! Jack Hartwell’s no spy for us.”