They chuckled together for several moments. Then—
“Hozie, what’s this talk about mebbe Jim’s death wasn’t an accident?”
“Wimmin,” said Hozie quickly. “Old wimmin talkin’.”
“Uh-huh. Yeah, I s’pose it is. I don’t like it, Hozie. But a while ago I got to thinkin’ about Jim. Where’s that note? Ed Merrick must ’a’ signed a copy for Jim. Merrick’s got his copy, signed by Jim.”
“Whoever got the money must ’a’ took the note, Curt.”
“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.