They jogged on, neither speaking
for many miles. When Malvey did speak, his manner was the least bit
patronizing. He could not quite understand Pete, yet The Spider had
seemed to understand him. As Pete had said nothing about the trouble
that had driven him to the desert, Malvey considered silence on that
subject emanated from a lack of trust. He wanted to gain Pete's
confidence--for the time being at least. It would make it that much
easier to follow The Spider's instructions in regard to Pete's horse.
But to all Malvey's hints Pete was either silent or jestingly
unresponsive. As the journey thinned the possibilities of Pete's
capture, it became monotonous, even to Malvey, who set about planning
how he could steal Pete's horse with the least risk to himself. Aside
from The Spider's instructions Malvey coveted the pony--a far better
horse than his own--and he was of two minds as to whether he should not
keep the pony for his own use. The Concho was a long cry from
Showdown--while the horse Malvey rode had been stolen from a more
immediate neighborhood. As for setting this young stranger afoot in
the desert, that did not bother Malvey in the least.
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