“There were three of them,” Smoke said.
“Yes, Emil, Jason, and Stu.”
“Emil is the smart one.”
“You mean because he got away last night?”
“He got away the last time, too.”
Sheriff Walker stroked his chin. “Yeah, well, no doubt he’s a long way from here by now.”
“I’m not so sure about that. I think he is still here.”
“If he is, I’ll have my deputies keep an eye out for him. Can you tell me what he looks like?”
“I’ve never actually seen him up close,” Smoke said. “I only saw him once, and then from a distance, when he and the others rode into Big Rock the day they tried to hold up the Mercantile. I saw him last night, of course, but it was so dark that I couldn’t make out any features.”
“So what you are saying is, you could pass him on the street and not recognize him?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”
“Well, if that’s the case, there really ain’t no need for him to be gone, is there? Not if you can’t even recognize him.”
“That’s true,” Smoke replied. “Tell me, Sheriff, will I be needed for an inquiry or anything?”
“No, I don’t think so,” the sheriff answered. “From everything I can determine, and from the statements I took from the other hotel guests, it seems pretty obvious they were coming into your room to rob you. Besides, Mr. Jensen, I know you and I know your reputation. If anything does come up, I certainly know how to get hold of you.”
“Yes, I’ll be here until after the auction today. After that, you can reach me at Sugarloaf, my ranch.”
“You came to make a bid for Prince Henry, didn’t you?”
“If he is all he is cracked up to be. And if I can afford him,” Smoke replied.
“Well, from what folks say about him, he’s quite a bull. I reckon he would make a good addition to anybody’s herd. And after this, you can probably afford to bid a little higher than you’d planned.”
“What do you mean?”
“Like I said, there was paper out on those two men who tried to rob you last night. There is a five-hundred- dollar reward on each one of them. That means you are a thousand dollars richer today than you was yesterday. If you stop back by my office just before the auction, I’ll have your money ready for you.”
“You don’t say. Well, now, that’s good to know,” Smoke said. “Thanks, Sheriff Walker.”
Chapter Nine
Tucker Phillips, Miller Smith, and their wives joined Smoke and Sally for lunch at the Manitou Restaurant, advertised in the
“Mrs. Smith, what a pretty hat,” Smoke said, getting the signal.
“Why, thank you, Mr. Jensen,” Mrs. Smith replied, beaming at the compliment.
“I wonder why Pogue Quentin didn’t join us,” Tucker Phillips said. “From what I understand, he is the only other person who will actually be bidding on Prince Henry.”
“Do you know anything about Quentin?” Smith asked.
Phillips shook his head. “Not really, just that he is a pretty big rancher.”
“I don’t know him, but a fella who used to cowboy for me, James Colby, went down to Huereano County and bought himself a small ranch. He sent me a letter not too long ago, said that this man, Quentin, had cheated every other ranch owner in the county out of his ranch,” Smith said.
“How did he do that?” Phillips asked.
“Somehow or the other, he got them all to agree to join their ranches together as a single ranch, with each of them owning shares. Only, after a short while, he turned out to be the sole owner.”
“What about your friend, Colby?”
“Colby didn’t join him,” Smith said. “He hasn’t lost his ranch, but he is really struggling to hang on. I hate to see that, too. He was one of the best men I ever had workin’ for me.”
“Do you know Quentin, Mr. Jensen?” Phillips asked.
“I never met him before last night,” Smoke said. “And there was something about him that I didn’t like. Hearing how he cheated his neighbors out of their land, I’m glad to see that my instincts are still working.”
“Speak of the devil,” Smith said. “There he is now.”
Smith nodded toward the door of the restaurant where Pogue Quentin and his son, Billy Ray, were just coming in. They were shown to a table on the opposite side of the room, but shortly after they were seated, Quentin came over to speak to Smoke and the others.
“Mr. Jensen, I heard about your little ruckus last night,” Quentin said. “I’m happy to see that you weren’t
