human
Well, as I was sayin', she resumed,
gpt
I thought I heard a noise outside, an' got up an' went to the winder. I couldn't see much, not 'nough so I could swear to nuthin'; but there was three or four men out there just across that little gully, you know, an' they had a woman with 'em. She didn't scream none, but she was tryin' ter git away; wunst she run, but they caught her. I didn't see no wagon then, it was behind the ridge, I reckon. After a while it drove off down the south trail, an' a little later three men come up them outside stairs back into the hotel. They was mighty still 'bout it, too.
human
You couldn't tell who they were?
gpt
They wa'n't like nuthin' but shadders; it was a purty dark night.
human
So it was, Sadie. Do you imagine Timmons had anything to do with the affair?
gpt
Timmons? Not him. There wa'n't no figure like his in that bunch; I'd know him in the dark.
human
But the woman might not have been Miss Donovan; isn't there another young lady here from the East?
gpt
Humph; you mean the peroxid blonde! She ain't no _lady_. Well, it wa'n't her, that's a cinch; she was down yere to breakfast, a laughin' an' gigglin' with them two men 'bout an hour ago. They seemed ter feel mighty good over something but I couldn't quite make out just what the joke was. Say, did yer ever hear tell of a Mexican named Mendez?
human
Well, rather; he's a cattle thief, or worse. Arizona has a big reward out for him, dead or alive.
gpt
That's the gink, I bet yer; has he got a hang-out anywhar 'round this country?
human
Not so far as I know; in fact, I haven't heard the fellow's name mentioned for six months, or more. What makes you suspect this?
gpt
For God's sake, Mr. Westcott, she whispered,
human
Well, he was doin' most of the talkin', an' I was foolin' round the sideboard yonder, pretendin' ter clean it up. Nobody thought I was in ear distance, but I got hold ov a word now an' then. He kept tellin' 'em, 'specially the blonde, 'bout this Mexican, who's a friend of Bill Lacy, an' I judge has a place whar he hangs out with his gang somewhar in the big desert.
gpt
Was anything said about Miss Donovan?
human
Not by name; they was too smart for that; but that was the direction Matt Moore drove off last night--there's Enright comin' down-stairs now; won't yer hav' some more cakes, sir?