A few minutes later Lem brought in their breakfast, and while they were eating Joe Cave came to the office. He leaned against the side of the doorway and leered at the men in the corridor.
Lem walked out to him, looked him over carefully, his face registering disgust.
‘Drunk as a boiled owl, eh?’
‘Whazzamatter with you?’ grunted Joe.
‘What’s the matter with me? I’ll tell yuh what’s the matter with me—I’m through with you, Joe.’
Lem reached over and unpinned the star from Joe’s vest, while Joe looked at him owlishly.
‘Go and sober up,’ said Lem coldly. ‘And then come back here and I’ll give yuh an order on the county for yore salary.’
‘Fired, eh?’ queried Joe.
‘Yore damn right! I don’t want a drunken deputy around here, forgettin’ to feed the prisoners and leavin’ the jail unlocked. Get away from here, before I flatten yore nose.’
‘A-a-a-aw right.’