“I dunno; name’s Hartley.”
“Stevens? Huh! Say, I believe he has a partner by that name. Wouldn’t that be funny if it was Hashknife Hartley. How do you get out to that HJ ranch?”
“We can take yuh out, Cates.”
“Fine. But how do they happen to be here?”
Kelsey told him about the burning bridge and the stalled cattle-train.
“But do yuh reckon they’ll work on the case?” asked Jack Ralston.
“We can soon find out. I’m curious to see him. It may not be the same man, but we can soon find that out, too.”
Kelsey obtained a buggy at the livery-stable, in which he and Cates rode out to the HJ, while Ralston followed them on horseback. But they did not find Hashknife and Sleepy at the ranch. Kelsey introduced Cates to the two girls and Cates found out that Hartley’s name was Hashknife.
“They rode away this morning with Honey Bee,” said Peggy. “No, I don’t know where they were going, Mr. Kelsey, nor when they’ll come back.”
“I see,” nodded Cates. “Well, would you mind telling Hartley that William Cates, of the Wells-Fargo, is in Pinnacle City and is anxious to see him?”