It was about an hour later when Lem Sheeley rode in at the ranch. Nan was busy in the kitchen, but the three men were on the porch to meet him.
‘I’ve got a little information for yuh,’ said the sheriff, declining to dismount. ‘After you boys left town, Jim Harker called me back to the bank. Yuh see, bankers are kinda close when it comes to talkin’ about things, and he didn’t know yuh very well.[’]
‘Here’s what he told me, boys. Napoleon Bonaparte Briggs is the one who has been sendin’ money to a Mary Morgan. He has been sendin’ it for years. Jim said he never asked Nap about it, ’cause he figured it wasn’t his business.[’]
‘He said he wondered where Briggs got the money, until one day Peter Morgan told him that Briggs had an interest in the 6X6. Now, mebby yuh can find out from Briggs what it’s all about, Hashknife. Harker don’t know a thing about it, except that Briggs kept a balance in the bank, and mostly every month he sent a check away. Harker says he don’t know any Mary Morgan.’
‘Old man Briggs is the cook at the 6X6, ain’t he, Lem?’ asked Hashknife.
‘Yeah, a queer old pelican. Been with the 6X6 since these hills were holes in the ground. Don’t start any argument, ’cause it won’t get yuh anywhere with him. I wish yuh luck in findin’ out anythin’. Just thought mebby you’d like to know; so I dropped in. Got to get back before dark.’
Hashknife thanked him for the information, and Lem rode on toward Cañonville.
‘It shore is worse tangled than ever now,’ said Hashknife. ‘I reckon the name Morgan is just a coincidence in this case, Rex. But just where does Briggs come in on it?’
‘Oh, I suppose we’ll never find out,’ sighed Rex. ‘But after all, what difference does it make? It can’t affect my future in any way. Still, I’d like to know. Don’t you see the position I am in? Suppose’—Rex hesitated for a moment—‘suppose I wanted to marry a girl, and she asked me about my father?’
‘Tell her he died before you was born,’ advised Hashknife.