“Just why did he want you to help?” she asked.
“Well, yuh see, it’s like this,” lied Hashknife. “Kelsey’s got the idea that folks around here are too friendly with Joe to hunt him. Me and Sleepy, bein’ strangers to Joe, might not be so particular.”
“Oh, I see. And are you going to help him?”
“No-o-o-o—I’m goin’ to help us find him, Peggy.”
“But what good will that do?”
“Any ‘good’ is better than we’ve got, Peggy.”
“I suppose it is,” she sighed. “But I can’t see where it will help anybody. If the law gets him⸺”
“Mebbe—and mebbe not.”
“What do you mean, Hashknife?”
“I was just thinkin’ out loud, Peggy. Yuh quit worrying about things.” He patted her on the arm. “We’ll be back for supper, and I’ll want to see yuh grinnin’.”