“I did not.”
“Ver’ funny. I keep horse in corral, but bimeby, he’s gone. I’m t’ought you take away.”
Bad News wanted to know what horse Cultus was talking about, but Cultus didn’t enlighten him. Bad News stuck rather closely to Cultus, because he wanted to find out more things, and he had a feeling that Cultus knew who had done the shooting in Padre Canyon.
They found Butch Van Deen in charge of the War Dance Saloon. He told them that Marsh had taken it over, and that he was to run the place until Marsh could get the man he wanted.
Butch seemed civil enough, but Cultus didn’t trust him. Evidently Hank North had told Butch about the trouble in Padre Canyon, because Butch wanted to know more about it. Alden Marsh was there, drinking rather heavily and inviting others to drink with him.
“This place will go broke, furnishin’ free liquor to young Marsh,” said Bad News.
Butch shrugged his shoulders.
“That ain’t my lookout. The old man lets the kid do as he pleases.”
Cultus noticed that Della was rather prominent about the place, but seemed rather serious. He saw her refuse to drink with Alden, who sneered at her openly, but continued drinking.
Finally she sat down alone at a table, and Cultus worked his way around to her. She looked him over cynically, as he sat down beside her.