The other refused to take offence. He smiled wryly. When he spoke, his words were without rancour.
"I can't claim the Injun. I was thinkin' of a sport named Loudon. Know him?"
"I told yuh I didn't know many people round here."
"I was just a-wonderin'. I was kind o' anxious to see Loudon."
"Well, I dunno nothin' about him."
"There was a man here named Loudon," piped up the drummer, perceiving an opportunity of annoying the landlord. "He stayed here all night. Another man was with him, a very dirty old character named Mackenzie. I think Scotty was his first name."
"Which way did they go?" demanded Block.
"They rode away toward Paradise Bend."
"That drummer can lie faster'n a hoss can trot," drawled the landlord.
"You know they stayed here all night," said the drummer with a flash of spirit. "I had breakfast with them."