B. M. Bower

“ I don't expect to keep Casey in hand—I happen to know him. But it's just possible, Jack, that I can keep him in sight!"
Of course I told her—as I've told her often enough before—that she was a brick. I added that I would go along, if she liked; which she did. Not even the Little Woman should ever attempt to drive across the Mojave alone.
We started out as soon as we had finished the meal. A Cadillac roadster came up behind us and honked for clear passing as we swung into the long, straight stretch that leads up the Cajon. ”

“ Then, when the waiter had removed the plates, the Little Woman looked at me with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Well-sir, there's something I want to tell you, Jack. I believe Casey has put this town on the run. They can't tell me! Something's happened, over around the courthouse. A lot of the men I talked with had a scared look in their eyes, and they were nervous when doors opened, and looked around when people came walking along. I don't know what he's been doing—but Casey Ryan's been up to something. You can't tell me! I know how our laundry boy looks when Casey's home." ”

“ So there we were, holding the bag, as you might say, and our ten thousand dollars' bail money.
"It's no use asking questions, Jack," the Little Woman told me pensively when we had finished our salad in the best café in town, and were waiting for the fish. "I've asked questions of every uniform in this town, from the district judge down to the courthouse janitor. Nobody knows a thing. I did find that Casey was booked yesterday for having a stolen car and a load of booze in his possession, but he isn't in jail—or if he is, they're keeping him down in some dungeon and have thrown away the key. ”