They knowed from Joe Cumberland that the gang was once here."
"Cumberland went to you when he got out of the valley?" queried Purvis
with a grin.
"Straight."
"And then where did Cumberland go?"
"I s'pose he went home an' joined his gal."
"He didn't," said Purvis drily.
"Then where is he? An' who the hell cares where he is?"
"They're both at Buck Daniels's house."
"Look here, Purvis, ain't Buck one of your own men? Why, I seen him up
at the camp jest a while ago!"
"Maybe you did, but the next time you call around he's apt to be
missin'."
"D'you think--"
"He's double crossed us. I not only seen the girl an' her father at
Buck's house, but I also seen a big dog hangin' around the house.
Gus, it was Black Bart, an' where that wolf is you c'n lay to it that
Whistlin' Dan ain't far away!"
The sheriff stared at him in dumb amazement, his mouth open.
"They's a price of ten thousand on the head of Whistlin' Dan,"
suggested Purvis.
The sheriff still seemed too astonished to understand.
"I s'pose," said Purvis, "that you wouldn't care special for an easy
lump sum of ten thousand, what?"
"In Buck Daniels's house!" burst out the sheriff.
Pages:
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296