‘C’mere, Morgan,’ ordered Lem severely. ‘What was it all about? Didn’t they tell yuh?’
‘Yes, they told me. I tried to find out how they knew so much about it—the evidence, you know—but they——’
‘The evidence of what?’
‘That Mr. Lane had killed Peter Morgan.’
‘F’r God’s sake! Is Peter Morgan dead?’
‘I would gather from their remarks that he is, Mr. Sheeley. I asked them where he was killed and when he was killed, but none of them were able to answer my questions. They rode away without molesting me further.’
‘Did Spike Cahill knock you down, Rex?’ asked Nan.
‘Oh, certainly. I suppose he was excited. In fact, one of them fired three shots at me, and one went through my sleeve, but no harm was done. But for fear that some of them might come back, I armed myself.’
Sleepy picked up the shotgun and opened it.
‘This gun is empty,’ he said.