“Nope. One’s a-plenty, I reckon. How come yuh never lit no signal fire from the rimrock like yuh was told to?”
“Fergot.”
Kipp felt somewhat relieved to learn that Tad would not be trapped as he had been.
“Fergot, eh?” Black Jack sneered. “Mebbe. Mebbe not. Looks tuh me like you was aimin’ tuh sneak in and take a look around. You bin weakenin’ fer some time. When I left yuh last night, you was doin’ some nasty talkin’. ’Lowed you was through with me and Fox. By ——, I’ll see about that! Afore yo’re a hour older, I’ll have yuh messed up so —— tight you won’t never make a peep. See them two skunks settin’ yonder? They’re cashin’ in their chips tonight, savvy? And yo’re the gent tuh do the job. Then yuh kin go back to Hank Basset and be —— to yuh. Go back and tell him how yuh hung his son and the nosey runt of a would-be gunman that come in here with him! Tell Basset that. I’ll learn yuh to lay down on me!”
The breed was literally shaking with rage now. His ugly lips twisted in a leering grin.
“I aimed tuh shoot them two and dump ’em in the river. Hangin’ beats that all tuh ——, though. ’Specially with Sheriff Kipp tuh lead their hosses out from under ’em and leave ’em danglin’ to a cottonwood limb.”
“——!” said Kipp hoarsely, reading full well the cruel cunning in Black Jack’s smoldering eyes. “You won’t! If ary harm come to them two boys, you’ll hang fer it. I’ll hang with ’em afore I’ll mix up in such a low-down murder. I told yuh I’d come to the place where I was quittin’. I meant what I said. I’m givin’ you a chanct that you don’t noways deserve. I’m givin’ you twenty-four hours tuh quit the country. After that time, I’m goin’ after yuh and by ——, I’ll put yuh back in the pen where yuh belong.”
Black Jack, calm again, sneered insultingly into the face of the sheriff.
“I reckon yo’re drunk. Yo’re fergettin’ who you are, ain’t yuh?”
“No,” said Kipp evenly, “I ain’t fergittin’. I’ve left papers behind me which tell the whole —— story. If I don’t come back in twenty-four hours there’ll be a hundred men in here to see what’s become uh me and to wipe out as low-down nest uh snakes as ever lived. I never lied tuh you. I ain’t lyin’ now. I’m givin’ you a fighting’ chanct tuh make a getaway. Take it er leave it.”