Front matter (continued 2)
Reading edition
Frenchy went on. Sleepy said, “Well, yuh can’t run away from everythin’. Maybe they’ll make you best man. But tell me somethin’, Tall-Feller; how’d you manage to suspect Tom Colton?”
“’Member the first time he talked with me, Sleepy. He had a telegram from James Morrison, who turned out to be Regan. After we took this job, Regan didn’t have time to get a letter about us, and the telegram didn’t mention who we were. But Colton said, ‘After all, the Cattlemens’ Association wouldn’t recommend a man who wasn’t capable.’ How would he know who recommended us, unless he had another wire ahead of the one I read?”
“That wasn’t much to go on,” said Sleepy.
“It was enough,” smiled Hashknife. “Maybe I better send a telegram to Bob Marsh, and tell him the ranches ain’t for sale.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea, pardner; and when yuh write it—give him my regards, will yuh?”
They grinned at each other, went back and registered again.
Transcriber’s Note: This story appeared in the October 25, 1948 issue of Short Stories Magazine.