“No.  Have you seen him lately?”

“Nope.  Chance and me was over to his camp, but he was gone.  We kind o’ tracked back there from the place where we found Fadeaway.”

“That so?”

“Uhuh.  It was like this.”  And Sundown gave a detailed account of his explorations.

When he had finished, the sheriff made a note on the edge of a newspaper.  Then he turned to Sundown.  “You’re either the deepest hand I’ve tackled yet, or you’re just a plain fool.  You don’t act like a killer.”

“Killer!  Say, mister, I wouldn’t kill a bug that was bitin’ me ’less’n he wouldn’t let go.  Why, ask Chance there!”

“I wish that dog could talk,” said the sheriff, smiling.  “Did you know that old Fernando had left the country—­crossed the line into New Mexico?”

“What?  Him?”

“Yes.  I know about where he is.”

“Guess his boss fired him for lettin’ all the sheep get killed.  Guess he had to go somewhere.”

The sheriff nodded.  “So you were going to take a little trip yourself, were you?”

“For me boss.  You ask him.  He can tell you.”

“I reckon when he finds out where you are he’ll come in.”

“And you’re goin’ to pinch me?”

“You’re pinched.”

“Well, I’m dum clost to gettin’ mad.  You look here!  Do you think I’d be ridin’ to Antelope if I done anything like shoot a man?  Do you think I’d hand you me gun without sayin’ a word?  And if you think I didn’t shoot Fadeaway, what in hell you pinchin’ me for?  Ain’t a guy got a right to live?”

“Yes.  Fadeaway had a right to live.”

“Well, I sure never wanted to see him cross over.  That’s the way with you cops.  If a fella is a Bo, he gets pinched, anyhow.  If he quits bein’ a Bo and goes to workin’ at somethin’, then he gets pinched for havin’ been a Bo onct.  I been livin’ honest and peaceful-like and straight—­and I get pinched.  Do you wonder a Bo gets tired of tryin’ to brace up?”

“Can’t say that I do.  Got to leave you now.  I’ll fix you up comfortable in here.”  And the sheriff unlocked the door leading to the one-room jail.  “I’ll talk it over with you in the morning.  The wife and kid will sure be surprised to see me back, so I’ll mosey down home before somebody scares her to death telling her I’m back in town.  So-long.”

Sundown sat on the narrow bed and gazed at the four walls of the room.  “Wife and kid!” he muttered.  “Well, I reckon he’s got a right to have ’em.  Gee Gosh!  Wonder if he’ll feed Chance!”

CHAPTER XVIII

THE SHERIFF AND OTHERS

Chance, disconsolate, wandered about Antelope, returning at last to lie before the door of the sheriff’s office.  The sheriff, having reestablished himself, for the nonce, in the bosom of his family, strolled out to the street.  He called to Chance, who dashed toward him, then stopped with neck bristling.