“Uh-huh. Well, that’s nice of yuh.”
“Where’s Joe Rich, Honey?”
“I left him down at his new place, settin’ there, lookin’ at nothin’. That boy’s half crazy.”
“Must have been more than half crazy,” declared Merrick.
“Yeah. Now I’ll buy a drink.”
Honey went back to Joe’s place before he went to the Lazy B, and found Joe still sitting in the same chair. He told Joe what Merrick had said about Jim’s borrowing money from Merrick to send Peggy with Laura.
“How much did he have to borrow?” asked Joe.
Honey didn’t know.
“Jim Wheeler must be short of money,” said Honey. “Merrick said he was in pretty deep with the Pinnacle bank. They accepted yore resignation and appointed Len Kelsey, Joe.”
“Quick work,” said Joe shortly.