Slim went straight to Lila and helped her to her feet. She was beyond words as she clung to his arm.
“It’s all right,” he told her.
“It’s all right,” echoed Jess Fohl. “We was a lot of fools to try and help him out. I’m glad we didn’t hurt anybody, ’cause that kinda lets us out. Angel shot Roper Briggs.”
Hashknife looked curiously at Fohl.
“Lets you out, eh?” He turned to Sleepy. “Go upstairs and get the old man.”
“Old man who?” asked Sleepy.
“Old Rance McCoy.”
Sleepy lighted another lamp and went up the stairs. Angel groaned and sat up, blinking foolishly. His eyes were dull and he swung his head like a sick animal.
“You must ’a’ popped him a good one, Hashknife,” said Slim.
“I shore did. That old ladder done the trick. It let me in that upstairs window, and I was at the bottom of the stairs when I heard somebody get slugged at the front door. And then I heard somebody ask for Langley. I knew he was the missin’ link; so I played Langley long enough to whisper to Angel with my gun barrel.”