Part 29 (2/2)

”I never did,” said Kansas, promptly. ”I know you. You ain't that kind.”

Jake looked reproachfully at his deputy. ”You never can tall, Racey,”

he said, turning to the puncher. ”I've got so myself I don't trust n.o.body no more.”

”Was this here yore own idea,” pursued Racey, ”or did somebody sic you onto me?”

Jake made no immediate answer. It was obvious that he was of two minds whether to speak or not.

”Why not tell him?” suggested Kansas. ”What's the odds?”

At this Jake took a piece of paper from his vest pocket and handed it to Racey.

”I found this lying on the floor of my office when I come back after attending to Bull,” was his explanation.

There were words printed on the slip of paper. They read:

Look in Racey Dawson's room for what killed Bull.

The communication was unsigned.

Racey handed it back to Jake Rule. ”Got any idea who put it in yore office?” he asked.

Jake shook his head. ”I dunno,” he said. ”The window was open. Anybody pa.s.sing could 'a' throwed it in.”

”You satisfied now, Jake, or--” Racey did not complete the sentence.

”Oh, I'm satisfied you didn't do it,” replied the sheriff, ”if that's what you mean. But--the man who wrote this here _joke_!”

As he spoke he tore the note in two, dropped the pieces on the floor, and stamped out of the room. Kansas Casey looked over his shoulder as he followed in the wake of his superior.

He saw Racey Dawson picking up the two pieces of the note. Racey's mouth was a grim, uncompromising line.

”If Racey ever finds out who wrote that,” thought Kansas to himself, pulling the door shut, ”h.e.l.l will sh.o.r.e pop. And I hope it does.”

For he liked Racey Dawson, did Kansas Casey, the deputy sheriff.

CHAPTER XV

FIRE! FIRE!

”Why didn't you tell me at breakfast?” demanded Swing Tunstall.

”And give it away to Jack Harpe!” said scornful Racey. ”Sh.o.r.e, that would 'a' been a bright thing to do now, wouldn't it?”

”What didja do with the knife?”

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