“It ain’t over two miles to the Circle Spade ranch. We were over there that mornin’, and old Rance had a big bump on his head. Looks as though a horse might have spilled him. He didn’t have much to say. We didn’t mention the horse to him, but it looks as though him and Chuckwalla beat it right down there and tried to destroy the evidence. Anyway, somebody was there ahead of Scotty, and danged near shot him. They held him off until they skinned out the brand and got away with the saddle.”
“Looked as though there had been two men, eh?”
“Prob’ly was.”
“How about Chuckwalla the night of the robbery?”
“Pretty drunk; too drunk to do anything.”
They finished their meal and wandered down to the Red Arrow. Business was not very brisk.
“Old Chuckwalla was here a while ago,” offered the bartender.
“Sober?” asked Slim.
“So damned sober he refused a second drink.”
“Have anythin’ to say about Rance?”