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Did Fadeaway think to hide himself behind the man at the bar? Then Fadeaway should not wear chaps with silver conchas that glittered and gleamed as he shifted his leg and turned his back. "Said he was my friend," mumbled Corliss. "My friend! Huh!" Was it a friend that would leave him sitting there, alone? He rose and lurched to the bar. Some one steadied him as he swayed.
"And if you got pinched, first thing you'd sing out 'Fadeaway, and then me for over the road, eh?" "Honest, Fade. I'll swear that I won't give you away, even if I get caught. Here's my hand on it." "Give me nine hundred and I'll go you," said Fadeaway, shaking hands with his companion. Corliss hesitated. Was the risk worth but half the money involved? "Five's a whole lot, Fade."
The men seemed satisfied with Sundown's graphic account in the main. Hi Wingle, the cook, asked no questions, but did a great deal of thinking. He was aware that Will Corliss had returned to the Concho, and also, through rumor, that Corliss and Fadeaway had been together in Antelope.
He would not ride around a herd of sheep that blocked his trail, not if he knew it! As he drew nearer the sheep they bunched, forcing those ahead to move on. Fadeaway glanced back at the sleeping boy, then set spur to his horse and waved his sombrero. The sheep broke into a trot. He rode back and forth behind them forcing them toward the cañon. He beat upon his rolled slicker with his quirt.
"Well, I'll divvy up give you five hundred if you'll come in on it." Again Fadeaway shook his head. "It's too risky, Billy. 'Course you mean all right but I reckon you ain't got nerve enough to put her through." "I haven't!" flashed Corliss. "Try me!" "And make a get-away," continued the cowboy. "I wouldn't want to see you pinched."
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.
"I wouldn't. One of my deputies is sitting just across the street. He's a mighty good shot. Can beat me hands down. Suppose you drop back in your chair and tell me what you know about the shooting of Fadeaway." "Me? You ain't joshin', be you?" "Never more serious in my life! I'm interested in this case." "Well, I ain't!" was Sundown's prompt remark. "And I got to go.
Shortly after Fadeaway had gone out, Will Corliss got up and sauntered to the street. He gazed up and down the straggling length of Antelope and cursed. Then he walked across to the sheriff's office. The sheriff motioned him to a chair, which he declined. "Better sit down, Billy. I want to talk to you." "Haven't got time," said Corliss. "You know what I came for."
"Ante up, Loring!" said Shoop, mounting his horse. "I'll see your hand if it takes every chip in the stack." "Here, too!" chorused the riders. "We're all in on this." They trailed along in single file until they came to the ford. They reined up sharply. One of them dismounted and dragged the body of Fadeaway to the bank. They grouped around gazing at the hole in Fadeaway's shirt.
Fadeaway laughed and turned toward the bar. "Ought to hand him one, but he's all in now, I reckon. That's what a fella gets for mixin' up with kids. Set 'em up, Joe." Left to himself Corliss stared about stupidly. Then he started for the doorway. As he passed Fadeaway, the latter turned and seized his arm. "Come on up and forget it, Billy. You and me's friends, ain't we?"
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