human
Go back where there ain't no chance of anybody hearin' us, or stumblin' over us, said Johnny.
gpt
When that gang leaves there won't be so much noise, an' then they may hear us.
human
Idaho, he said, quietly,
gpt
I shore did, answered Idaho.
human
Why?
gpt
I was near raised on it. Bill Long is Hopalong Cassidy, an' Red Thompson is Red Connors, th' whitest men that ever set a saddle. Rob a bank, an' shoot a man from _behind_! Did Bill Long act like a man that had to shoot in th' back when he made Thorpe climb his own wall, with his own crowd lookin' on? Most of their lives has been spent fightin' Kane's kind; an' no breed of pups can hold 'em while I'm drawin' my breath. It's only how to do it th' best way that's botherin' me. I've slipped 'em a pair of guns, so I got a little time to think. Why, cuss it: Hoppy knows th' skunk that got Ridley! An' before we're through we'll know who robbed th' bank, an' hand 'em over to Mac. That's what's keepin' th' three of us here!
human
Bless my gran'mother's old gray cat! breathed Idaho.
gpt
No wonder they pulled th' string! I'm sayin' Kane's got hard ridin' ahead. Say, can I tell th' boys at th' ranch?
human
Tell 'em nothin' that you wouldn't know except for me tellin' you, replied Johnny.
gpt
I know they're good boys; but they might let it slip. Me an' Hoppy an' Red are aimin' for them rewards--an' we're goin' to get 'em both.
human
It's a plumb lovely night, muttered Idaho.
gpt
Nicest night I think I ever saw. I don't want no rewards, but I just got to get my itchin' paws into what's goin' on around this town. An' it's a lovely town. Nicest town I think I ever was in. That 'dobe shack ain't what it once was. I know, because, not bein' friendly with th' sheriff, an' not bein' able to look all directions at once, I figgered I might be in it, myself, some day. So I've looked it over good, inside an' out. Th' walls are crumbly, an' th' bars in th' window are old. There's a waggin tongue in Pete Jarvis' freight waggin that's near twelve foot long, an' a-plenty thick. Ash, I think it is; that or oak. Either's good enough. If it was shoved between th' bars an' then pushed sideways that jail wouldn't be a jail no more. If Pete ain't taken th' waggin to bed with him, bein' so proud of it, we can crack that little hazelnut. I'm goin' back an' see how many are still hangin' around.
human
I'm goin' back to th' hotel, so I'll be seen there,
gpt
I'll do th' same, later,
human
Tom Ridley wasn't killed by no strangers! he growled, banging the table with his fist.
gpt
I can name th' man that done it by callin' th' roll av Kane's litter; an' I'll be namin' th' bank robbers in th' same breath. He looked around as Johnny entered the room.
human
An' what did ye find, lad?
gpt
Idaho was right. They've got 'em in th' jail.
human
An' if I was as young a man as you, said the proprietor,
gpt
Back from his ride?
human
Shure. He just wint down th' trail. Tellin' Mac, I don't doubt that he's got th' men Twitchell wants. I was lookin' around when he wint past. This is th' time, lad. I'll help ye by settin' fire to Red Frank's corral if th' jail's watched. It'll take their attention. Or I'll lug me rifle up an' cover ye while ye work. He arose and went into the office for the weapon, Johnny following him.
gpt
There she is--full to th' ind. An' I know her purty ways.
human
Tim, said Johnny's low voice over his shoulder.
gpt
Yo're white, clean through. I don't need yore help, anyhow, not right now. An' because you are white I'm goin' to tell you somethin' that'll please you, an' give me one more good friend in this rotten town. Bill Long an' Red Thompson are friends of mine. They did not rob th' bank, nor shoot Ridley; but Bill knows who _did_ shoot Ridley. He saw him climbin' out of Kane's south stable while th' smoke was still comin' from th' gun that shot yore friend. I can put my hand on th' coyote in five minutes. Th' three of us are stayin' here to get that man, th' man who robbed th' bank, an' Pecos Kane. I'm tellin' you this because I may need a good friend in Mesquite before we're through.
human
Ah! he breathed.
gpt
Come on, lad; point him out! Point him out for Tim Quayle, like th' good lad ye are!
human
Do you want him so bad that yo're willin' to let th' real killer get away? asked Johnny.
gpt
You only have to wait an' we'll get both.
human
What d'ye mean?
gpt
You don't believe he shot Ridley without bein' told to do it, do you?
human
Kane told him; I know it as plain as I know my name.
gpt
Knowin' ain't provin' it, an' provin' it is what we got to do.
human
growled Quayle.
gpt
Go wan!
human
Yo're friends with McCullough, said Johnny.
gpt
Mac knows a little; an' I'm near certain he's heard of Hopalong Cassidy an' Red Connors, of th' Bar-20. Don't forget th' names: Hopalong Cassidy an' Red Connors, of th' old Bar-20 in th' Pecos Valley. Buck Peters was foreman. I want you to go down an' pay him a friendly visit, and tell him this,
human
Bye, chuckled the proprietor,
gpt
If you knew th' man you couldn't hold back, replied Johnny.
human
Here: I'll tell Idaho, an' Ed Doane. If Bill an' I go under they'll give you his description. I don't know his name.
gpt
Th' offer is a good wan; but Tim Quayle never broke his word to anny man an' there's nothin' on earth or in hiven I want so much as to know who murdered Tom Ridley. I pass ye my word with th' sign av th' cross, on th' witness of th' Holy Virgin, an' on th' mem'ry av Tom Ridley--I'll stay me hand accordin' to me promise.
human
A Greaser with a pock-marked face, an' a crescent-shaped scar over his right eye. He is about my height an' drags one foot slightly when he walks.
gpt
Aye, from th' ball an' chain! muttered Quayle.
human
I know th' scut! Thank ye, lad: I can sleep better nights. An' I can wait as no Irishman ever waited before. Annythin' Tim Quayle has is yourn; yourn an' yore friends. I'll see Mac tomorrow. Good night. He cuddled the rifle and went toward the stairs, but as he put his foot on the first step he stopped, turned, and went to a chair in a corner.
gpt
I'm forgettin', he said, simply.
human
Ye may need me,