Carter privately suspected Bailey was behind the thefts--why should he have any loyalty to the new management, after all?--but made no comment about his suspicions. Bailey's little set-back was only temporary; it was best not to spread any rumors about the fire-eater that might come back to bite him later!
"After all those years of dealing with flatties on the midway, you bet I know what to look for," he quipped, planting his cane firmly on the dusty road to take the first step toward town.
"I like the new boss," Carter went on. "How about you, Graham?"