“Good place to eat here,” offered the sheriff. “Up the street a little ways. I’m kinda hungry, too.”
“Count me in,” grinned Sleepy. “Let’s go git it.”
They went up to a Chinese restaurant, where they proceeded to regale themselves with ham and eggs, and plenty of coffee. Hashknife tried to draw the sheriff out in regard to conditions in that country, but the sheriff refused to offer any information. Sunshine went to sleep, with his head in a plate of ham and eggs, and the sheriff swore feelingly at him.
“He’s a danged good deputy most of the time,” he declared. “But once in a while he slops over and gits all lit up like a torchlight procession. He’s harmless thataway.”
After the meal, Hashknife and Sleepy helped the sheriff take Sunshine down to the sheriff’s office, where they put him to bed. An engine whistled as they came out of the office, and Hashknife opined that they had better go to the depot and see if their train was ready to pull out. The sheriff offered to go with them, so the three of them sauntered up there.
A passenger train was just pulling out, but there was no sign of the cattle-train.
“Well, I know danged well we left one here,” said Hashknife blankly, as they walked up to the depot and questioned the sleepy-eyed agent.
“Cattle-train? Oh, yes. Why, it left here quite a while ago. Went on to the siding at Turkey Track for the passenger.”
“Oh, so that’s where it went, eh?” Hashknife scratched his head wonderingly. “Where’s Turkey Track sidin’?”
“About six miles east. They’ve pulled on quite a while ago.”