human
Hello, Jim, he said rather briskly,
gpt
I was sorter lookin' 'round fer yer; somebody said yer hoss was up at the stable. Had a little trouble up your way last night, I hear.
human
Nothing to bother you, Dan; my Mexican watchman was shot up through a window of the shack.
gpt
Kill him?
human
Instantly; I told the coroner all about it. Whoever the fellow was I reckon he meant the shot for me, but poor José got it.
gpt
Yer didn't glimpse the critter?
human
No, it was long after dark. I've got my suspicions, but they'll keep. Seen Bill Lacy this morning?
gpt
He's back there in his office. That's what I stopped yer for. He said he rather expected ye'd be along after awhile. What's up between yer, Jim? Not this Mexican shootin' scrape?
human
Not unless he mentions it, Dan, although I reckon he might be able to guess how it happened. Just now I've got some other things to talk about--he's cutting into my vein.
gpt
The hell he is!
human
Sure; I got proof of it last night. He's running a cross channel. I was down his shaft.
gpt
I heard he's knocked off work; discharged his men.
human
Yes, but only to give him time in which to pull off some other deviltry. That gave me opportunity to learn just what was being done. I slipped into the workings after the gang had left, and now I've blocked his game. Say, Dan, what do you know about that Mexican, Mendez?
gpt
Nuthin' good. I never put eyes on the fellow. Some claim he's got a place where he hides, out thar in the Shoshone desert, but I never got hold of anybody yet as really knew.
human
There is such a man, then?
gpt
Sure. Why he an' his gang had a pitched battle down on Rattlesnake 'bout six months ago; killed three of the sheriff's posse, an' got away. Seemed like the whole outfit naturally dropped inter the earth. Never saw hide ner hair of 'em afterward.
human
I've heard that he and Bill Lacy were in cahoots.
gpt
Likely enough; ain't much Lacy ain't into. He's been sellin' a pile of cattle over at Taylorsville lately, an' likely most of 'em was stole. But hell! What can I do? Besides, that's the sheriff's job, ain't it? What yer goin' in to see him about, Jim?
human
Only to ask a few questions.
gpt
There ain't goin' ter be no fight er nuthin'?
human
I don't see any cause for any, he answered.
gpt
But Bill might be a bit touchy. Maybe, Dan, it might be worth while for you to hang around. Do as you please about that.