“Thanks, Ox,” grinned the little puncher. “Gimme that rope and I’ll tie that Injun. Where’s yore men, big feller?”
“I come with Kipp. Quit a runnin’ off at the head, runt, and tie up that black-muzzled skunk afore he comes alive and makes me kill ’im.”
Pete and Kipp were quickly freed. They grinned their thanks and set to work silencing Slim and the other man.
“Pete,” grinned the jubilant Shorty, “meet up with my ol’ Tad pardner. Homelier’n a muley cow, but we can’t all of us be han’some. Yuh done got here jest about time, feller. The Injun was kinda goin’ on the notion that all good cow hands was dead ’uns and was rearin’ tuh convert me’n Pete. I owes Peter twenty cents, Taddie. Bein’ kinda nervous inside, I missed that —— spider every shot. I ain’t so good as I used tuh be at——”
“Fer gosh sake, dry up, runt,” grumbled Tad. “Yuh dad-gummed li’l locoed idjit. Snuk off on me and overmatched yorese’f, didn’t yuh? I’d orter ’a’ let yuh git yore needin’s.”
With a snort of disapproval, he turned to Kipp.
The sheriff had moved to the open doorway and was staring with thoughtful eyes into the night. He turned as Tad’s hand rested on his shoulder. Together they stepped outside.
“That —— hole ketched me, Ladd. The fall knocked me out and they had me foul when I come to. I done my best, which was a —— of a pore showin’.”
“No man kin do more’n his best, Joe. It’s over now, let’s fergit it.”
Tad shoved out his hand, but Kipp shook his head.