‘What’s all this talk about Miss Lane and the tenderfoot disappearin’?’ asked Spike. ‘Lotsa folks have been talkin’ about it, and we want it straight.’
Lem explained as well as he could.
‘Ain’t showed up yet?’ Bert Roddy shook his head painfully.
‘Not yet, Bert.’
‘Well, I’ll be damned! Whatcha suppose became of ’em, Lem?’
‘Nobody knows.’
‘Did Joe Cave show up here?’ asked Hashknife.
‘About an hour ago,’ said Spike, spitting dryly. ‘Quit his job, didn’t he?’ looking at Lem.
‘I fired him,’ said Lem.
‘I told yuh!’ crowed Bert. ‘Didn’t I offer to make yuh a bet, Spike? I said that Lem canned him, didn’t I?’