“There had to be a way out,” states Hashknife. “I reckon that old crater must run plumb through into Bluff Lake Valley, and they runs a few head of steers through at a time. Likely run in a few at a time and held them up in the rocks until they has enough to make a drive. I knowed the answer was up here, ’cause Baldy got shot here, and somebody bawled him out for bein’ on Circle Dot Range. They kept the two ranches fightin’ each other, while they stole from both.”
“I wonder,” says Windy, sad-like. “I wonder if Snag and Mary Jane——”
“Kinda looks thataway,” nods Hashknife. “And the sheriff’s office ain’t got no keeper and Blubber won’t ever have to get his adenoids cut out,” says I.
“Well,” says Windy, “I reckon it’s all right for Snag to get Mary Jane. I like her fine, yuh understand. Yeah, I like her better than any girl I ever seen, but she’s too danged good for me. I—I never said anythin’ to her—never intended to, yuh understand? Why, if she was to ask me to marry her I’d have to refuse. Yessir, I’d have to. What would you do in a case like that, Hashknife?”
“Just like you would, you —— liar,” says Hashknife, and we went down through the Devil’s Dooryard without further comment.