“There’s the man you’re looking for.”
I walked to the door. Across the street a man was dismounting from a
horse.
“Greatest sheep-thief in the world,” said Mr. Jones. “I’ll bet he can
tell you things you won’t find in books.”
“Who is it, Dirty Shirt?” asked Mr. Simpkins.
“‘Jay-Bird,’” was Mr. Jones’ reply.
Mr. Simpkins repeated the name chokingly.
“Will you introduce us?” I asked.
It seems that my question surprized Mr. Jones, for he said:
“I will not. He has sworn to shoot me on sight.”
This information thrilled me. It was life in the rough. I asked him if
it would be safe to approach this outlaw, and he said the safest way
would be to carry my gun in my hand to show that I was prepared, as a
sheep-thief never shoots any one except unarmed men, so he said.
Willie Suggs was eager to meet this Jay-Bird person, so we excused
ourselves and hurried over across the street and went inside the place.
We found this Jay-Bird standing at a long counter, talking with a number
of rough men. Mr. Warner was sitting on a table, smoking, and when he
saw us he turned away. He seemed to be sitting on his right hand.
I carried my new gun in my right hand. This Jay-Bird person is really
fierce of aspect. I touched him on the shoulder, and he turned just as
he was about to imbibe some liquid from a small glass. He stared at us
and then down at the gun in my hand. I said—
“I want you to understand that we are not policemen.”
He looked at the glass of liquor and then at himself in the big mirror.
Then he placed the glass on the counter and said—
“I think my sins have found me out.”