Pagina 400 van 439

The Texan nodded. "That's about how I figured it. I'm glad you

told me, boys. I reckon I don't need to tell you I'm padlocked in

regard to this."

Arlie came to the door and looked in. "It's time you boys were

going. Doc said a half hour."

"All right, Arlie," responded Dick. "So-long, Steve. Be good, you

old pie eater."

After they had gone, the Texan lay silent for a long time. He

understood perfectly their motive in telling him the story. They

had not compromised themselves legally, since a denial would have

given them two to one in the matter of witnesses. But they wished

him to see that, morally, every man but one who rode on that raid

was guiltless of the Squaw Creek murders.

Arlie came in presently, and sat down near the window with some

embroidery.

"Did the boys tire you?" she asked, noting his unusual silence.

"No. I was thinking about what they told me. They were giving me

the inside facts of the Squaw Creek raid."