“Didn’t I tell yuh to not talk much about it?” demanded Honey angrily. “I told yuh that when we was crossin’ the bridge.”
“Yeah, I know yuh did. But I didn’t talk much. My ⸺, I only said it was too bad!”
“Well, that’s a lot, Slim. Peggy didn’t know they wanted Joe for murder.”
“Well, she knows it now. I s’pose I might as well be the one to break the news to her.”
“Oh, it don’t matter so much,” said Hashknife. “She’d find it out tomorrow, anyway. We’re all to be called on that inquest—me and Sleepy and Honey. It won’t amount to anythin’. They’ll just bring in a verdict chargin’ Joe with the murder.”
“I was talkin’ to Ross Layton before we left town,” said Honey. “Kelsey is gettin’ out new reward notices. He wanted the commissioners to vote more money on that reward, but Ross and Angus McLaren were against it.”
“Kelsey’s got the idea that some of Joe’s friends are hidin’ him, and that a bigger reward would make ’em trade him in.” Hashknife laughed heartily.
“That’s a new one, Honey. I’ve heard of lots of reasons for offerin’ rewards, but that’s the first time I ever heard of tryin’ to buy off a friendship.”
“Well, that was Kelsey’s idea. He’s shore a bright sheriff. He thinks that an added reward would cause Joe’s friends to pop him on the head and bring him in.”
“It might, at that,” said Hashknife.