Later on in the day Butch Reimer ran into Slim, and they discussed the arrest of Rance McCoy.
“I hope yuh didn’t think I was tryin’ to block the wheels of justice when I didn’t identify that horse,” said Butch.
“It was all right, under the circumstances,” said Slim. “I kinda wondered, after the horse had been identified.”
“Hartley got kinda salty, didn’t he?”
“Mebby. Yuh see, it was his horse, Butch.”
“Yeah, I know it was. But don’t yuh know, he made me a little bit sore. He’s kinda inclined to be cocky, ain’t he, Slim?”
“I don’t think so. And it might be worth yore while to know that he’s a bad jigger to get funny with, Butch.”
“Yeah? How do you know all this? Did he tell yuh?”
Slim shook his head quickly.
“He’d be the last one to do that, Butch. I merely know these things from his reputation.”