‘It never occurred to me that my mother had an income of some kind. She never mentioned the fact that I had any relatives. Why, I don’t even know who my father was. That is the truth, as strange as it may seem. But after she died, I found a letter or rather an envelope, inside of which was a check for seventy-five dollars. It had been sent from Mesa City. I couldn’t read the signature on the check, you see. There was really nothing to keep me; so I came here, because I was curious.’
‘Well, I’ll be darned!’ exclaimed Lem. ‘Yore name’s Morgan, too, eh?’
‘Yes.’
‘Yuh don’t know what became of the horse, do yuh?’
‘Naturally not. I—I think I better get up. My head feels much better, and I’m awfully hungry—’
‘I reckon yuh ain’t goin’ to die from a tunk on the head,’ grinned Lem. He got to his feet and picked up his hat. ‘I reckon I’ll be foggin’ along, Miss Lane.’
Nan went out on the porch with Lem, where they talked together for several minutes.
‘I dunno what to do about that 6X6 outfit,’ said Lem. ‘If they get yore brother, they’ll hang him sure; so yuh better get word to him to lay low. Accordin’ to my way of thinkin’, it was self-defense. If I get him, I’ll lock him up, of course. Have to, because it’s my duty.[’]
‘And you keep an eye on this young Morgan. Bunty Smith says he’s as crazy as a loon. Of course, yuh can discount what Bunty says, because Bunty was as sore as a boil. He says this young feller will have more twists than a pretzel when he gets through with him. Well, I’ll be goin’. If I see Pete Morgan, I’ll tell him to keep his punchers off this place.’
‘Thank you very much, Mr. Sheeley.’