Hashknife debated over Sleepy’s resume of the case. It was the reasonable decision, and was probably the decision of everybody who knew of the case; but Hashknife withheld his opinion because he refused to agree with the masses. To Sleepy, the case was closed; but to Hashknife, it was just beginning to open.
‘They tell me that Paul Lane is a salty old jigger,’ said Sleepy thoughtfully. ‘It would be like him to kill a man and send him home on his own horse. I wish I knew what Pete Morgan was doin’ over here that night?’
‘Evidently tryin’ to “get” old man Lane, Sleepy.’
‘Why?’
‘There yuh are. He came alone. Why?’
‘Don’t ask me—I’m no mind-reader.’
‘And still yuh think there’s nothin’ to the case?’
‘I wasn’t figurin’ any reasons for the killin’.’
‘There’s got to be a reason for the killin’, Sleepy. I want to know why Pete Morgan got up long before daylight, saddled his horse, and came over here—if he did come here. Of course, we’ve got no proof that he did except that the sheriff found his gun in the corral.’
‘Guns don’t fly.’