“Oh, I can absorb anythin’ that don’t hurt the rest of yuh. All I ask is that yuh don’t require my opinion. I’m honest.”
Angus McLaren came in and Lonnie invited him to share their hospitality. McLaren rarely drank anything, but no one had ever known him to refuse an invitation.
“We just got back from ridin’ with the deputy,” explained Nebrasky. “Ridin’ allus makes me dry.”
McLaren laughed and poured out a drink.
“Well, here’s hopin’ they never even catch sight of Joe’s dust,” said Leach.
“I dunno,” said McLaren. “Ye see, boys, it’s a serious charge they’ve put against Joe Rich.”
“Serious!” snorted Lonnie. “To shoot Kelsey? Why, Kelsey was reachin’ for⸺”
“I know that, Lonnie. But that’s not the charge. To-day Ed Merrick loaned Jim Wheeler five thousand in cash and took Jim’s note for it. Jim rode away with the money. There’s not a cent on poor Jim—and Joe was the one who found him.”
“A-a-a-a-aw, Gee!” Lonnie dropped his glass on the floor.
“Yuh mean to say that Joe got away with it?” asked Nebrasky.