“That hurt him, Hartley. He didn’t say much, but I know him pretty well. He loved Lila. I reckon she’s about the only thing he did love, and she turned him down jist because he never did tell her who she was. She hadn’t ort to have done that. Queer idea, ’pears to me.”
“What do you know about her parents?” asked Hashknife.
“No more than you do. He never told me anythin’. Even after Billy DuMond talked about it, old Rance never did explain anythin’. But I seen tears in his eyes one night. And the old fool was readin’ a book upside down. Don’t let anybody tell yuh he ain’t got feelin’s.”
“But who do yuh think busted the jail for him?”
“Probably busted it himself. Mebby they forgot to lock him in. That dam’ sheriff’s force! I’d like to see one of the old-time sheriffs ag’in. They’d keep their man, y’betcha.”
Chuckwalla stepped outside and hammered lustily on an old triangle with a piece of drill-steel, calling Monty Adams and Steve Winchell to breakfast.
The two sleepy-eyed cowboys exhibited no surprise at finding Hashknife at breakfast. Chuckwalla told them about Ed Corby’s death, and they marveled exceedingly.
“What’s new about Rance?” asked Steve. “We’re gettin’ kinda anxious about the old man, Hartley.”
Hashknife could tell them nothing.
“Yuh don’t need to worry about yore pay,” said old Chuckwalla. “The Circle Spade is worth it.”