‘Na-a-aw! Yuh see,’ Noah rested his skinny elbows on the table and considered the sugar-bowl thoughtfully, ‘I figure a sheriff ort to be heartwhole and fancy-free. Otherwise he ain’t capable.’
‘Fell in love, eh?’ smiled Hashknife.
‘Accordin’ to all signs of the Zodiac—he has. I’m here in town, runnin’ the damned office, while he lallygags. By Gad, I hope t’ be my own boss some day.’
‘And if yuh was, you’d be out to see the same girl, eh?’
Noah looked up quickly, and his ears grew red.
‘How do yuh make that out, stranger?’
‘Observation. If it wasn’t true, you wouldn’t give a damn where he was.’
‘Uh-huh.’
The waiter deposited Noah’s food in front of him, and the conversation lagged for a few minutes. Their orders came along, and the three men busied themselves with the meal.
‘Goin’ to stay around here?’ asked Noah.