Sunshine groaned miserably and went in search of something bracing.
“What are you fellers goin’ to do?” asked the sheriff. “Are yuh goin’ to stay here a while, or are yuh pullin’ out?”
“Yuh don’t mind if we stay, do yuh?” asked Hashknife.
“No-o-o. I was just wonderin’, thassall. How long have yuh known Casey Steil?”
“What makes yuh think we know him?”
The sheriff scratched a match and lit his pipe, which did not draw at all well. He spat disgustedly and threw it on the desk.
“Tell us about this sheep trouble,” urged Hashknife. “We’ve heard enough of it to make us curious.”
“Yeah?” The sheriff grinned wisely. “Curiosity killed the cat, yuh know.”
“We’ll take a chance on the cats.”
“All right, they’re yore cats, Hartley. I don’t know neither of you two fellers. Mebbe yo’re connected with the sheepmen, for all I know, but the causes of this trouble ain’t secret. So I’ll tell yuh about ’em.”