“Have they caught him yet?” asked Hank, his lips white with fear.
“He got clean away, Hank,” said Kipp. “I rode over tuh tell yuh.”
V
If ever a man looked worried, it was Joe Kipp. Every feature of his tanned face was drawn and haggard. His eyes were bloodshot and seared with some tortuous pain. His hands shook so that he spilled the tobacco he was pouring into a brown paper.
“Pete was a sorter trusty at Deer Lodge,” he went on to explain. “He waited till the chance come, then made a clean getaway. He was gone two hours afore they found it out. I got orders tuh watch out fer him, Hank. Yuh see, they figger he’ll be showin’ up around these parts.”
“Look here, Joe Kipp,” said Ma Basset firmly, her eyes still wet, “I don’t intend to sit by with my hands in my lap while you or any other man is gunnin’ fer my Pete. Yo’re a law officer and there’s no way to keep yuh from hangin’ around here, but I’m givin’ yuh warnin’ here and now that no man kin take Pete while I kin hold a gun.”
She turned to her husband.
“Hank, I’m glad the boy’s loose and a breathin’ good clean air again. He ain’t goin’ back if I kin help it. Are you standin’ by yore wife and son er do you line up on the side uh the law that sends innocent boys tuh prison? Are yuh——”
“Hush, Ma, yo’re excited,” interrupted Hank. “Uh course, I’m stayin’ by Pete, right er wrong. But there’s no need tuh——”