“I s’pose. The money was all in big bills. By golly, I hope they find Joe Rich.”
Uncle Hozie sighed deeply. He loved Joe Rich like a son, and it was difficult for him to believe Joe guilty.
“It hurts Peggy,” he said slowly. “It hurts her as much as the death of her father. Yuh see, she loved Joe a lot.”
“I reckon we all did, Hozie—up to the day he was to be married.”
“Joe Rich of yesterday,” muttered Uncle Hozie.
“Whatcha say, Hozie?”
“Jist thinkin’ out loud, Curt. I’ll find Honey, and break the bad news to him.”
“Yeah; he’ll prob’ly be sore as hell.”
CHAPTER V: HASHKNIFE AND SLEEPY
It was several days after the funeral of Jim Wheeler, and things in the Tumbling River range seemed back on an even keel again. Joe Rich was still at large. The sheriff had broadcast Joe’s description, and the county had offered a thousand dollars reward.