“Billy DuMond got it kinda twisted,” he said.
“I hope we can find some slippers around here; I can’t wear boots.”
“And you can all thank Hashknife,” said Slim, looking around. “He dug it all out for us. Where’s Hashknife?”
“Where’s Sleepy?” asked Chuck.
But nobody knew. They had tiptoed their way out, mounted their horses, and were heading for Red Arrow, leaving the sheriff and Chuck to mop up things. Neither of them could stand to be thanked.
They found Scotty McKay at the office, along with a dozen other men, including Jim Parker. They were waiting some word from Slim regarding Lila, and almost mobbed Hashknife and Sleepy for information.
“She’s safe,” said Hashknife. “Angel McCoy and Roper Briggs are dead; they shot each other. Angel kidnapped Lila to get back at Slim, and upset the lamp in Parker’s house. Rance McCoy is all right. Langley and his gang were tryin’ to force him to tell where the loot from the express car was cached. Slim is bringin’ ’em all in, and you’ll get the whole story from him. Was there any telegram, Scotty?”
Wonderingly Scotty handed Hashknife the telegram, which had been sent to Slim Caldwell. It read:
PAULSEN CONFESSED ARREST REIMER GLOVER DUMOND CONGRATULATIONS YOU WIN THE REWARD
WELLS FARGO
Hashknife grinned and handed the telegram back to Scotty.