Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-01-04

"A group was gatnered ABOUT the
body In the rain. a single lantern
giimmeriDg Two or three men had
started Gown the passageway. and
! Keith met them. reviewers drawn and
suspicious
Who are you?" snapped one
sharply Were you doing all that
shooting yonder?''
Keith recognized the voice. thank
Z ful that he did so e
II fired at the fellow. but he got
away onto the prairie reckon you
couldn't have done any better. Bill
Jack Keith! and Hickock's voice
had new tone. his hand dropping on
the others shoulder Never was
BLADDER TO meet fellow In my life.
down In Dodge When he gives up
ehasin murderer there isn't much
use our tryin. Let's go back. and find
out how bad the fellow is hurt While
We're teelin' our way. Jack. you might
tell US what you know about this at
tair''
III was Just the flash Of gun, and
the man dropped Keith explained.
briefly. y was ten or a dozen feet
behind. and the fellow fired from IN
der the wagon there He must have
been laying tor some one-i reckon.
maybe. Il was
You? Then Its likely you have
some notion who he was?''
Well. II have. Billiard Keith.s
lips were set tight.. IN not liable to
tell you If it's the lad think likely.
In attend to the case myself You
understandable is my personal at.
fair
Hickock nodded. his hand again
pressing the others shoulder
Sure. Jack, II you feel that way
There's enough doing here In eheri-
dan to keep marshal reasonably
busy, without dippin into private
matters. rather reckon you can
take care Of yourself. but If you need
me. old boy. I'm always right here on
the job. You know that"
\ do. Bill. and appreciate IT. :.
The group about the motionless
body tell away. and made room for the
marshal. the last man to rise saying
soherly:
He's dead all right. FIickock |
guess he never knew what hit him
4 Good shootin. toedark as 1t is here :"
Had the range fixed. likely" re-
turned the marshal That's what
Flakes 1t look like it was arranged
He bent down. striving to distin,
guish the dead mans features turned
up TO the drizzle. but the night re-
yeaied only the faintest outline.
Anybody know him o" There was
mo response. only a shutting of feet
iii tie mud Here. you man with tha
Siantern, hold 1t over where can see.
There. that Is better Now, YOU fel.
lows take look. and see If some OF
you can't name the poor devil.
They glanced down, one after the
other. over Bills shoulder. shading
their eyes from the rain SO as To see
! clearer, The light of the Pickering
lantern streamed full on the CHASTITY
face. but each man shook his head,
and passed on Keith hung hack, hop
ing some one would Identity the body.
and not make 1t necessary for him 10
take part in the grewsome task. II
was not likely to be any one he knew
and besides. he felt the man had died
40 his stead. and he dreaded to look
upon the stricken face When the last
cf the group had drifted back out OF
the radius OF light Hickock looked up
and saw him.
Here, Jack. he said. gravely. you
better try-you might know him"
Keith bent over and hooked down.
As be did SO his heart seemed to rise
choking into his throat, and blur
obscured his sight He swept hand
over his eyes and dropped on his
knees into the mud beside the body,
staring speeches. into the white face.
the sigh Tess eyes. Hickoek watch
Ing him losely and gripped his arm
What 8 1t? Do you Know him.
Ny ecu, yes. Fred Willoughby,"