“Yuh might figure it like that,” said Steen. “There’s no use in sacrificin’ thousands of sheep and a lot of men.”
“That’s true,” nodded Hashknife. “Somebody ruined yore scheme, did they?”
Neither of the sheepmen denied it. Hashknife turned to King.
“Did you know that Jack Hartwell’s wife has been missin’ since yesterday afternoon?”
“Missin’?” King stared at Hashknife. “You mean that somethin’ has happened to her?”
Hashknife described the condition of the house, and of finding the dying man.
“That was Preston!” exclaimed Steen. “By ——, that’s what happened to him. What did he say, Hashknife?”
“He said that Ed shot him, and that Ed took the woman.”
“Ed who?” asked King anxiously. “Who is Ed?”
Hashknife shook his head.