The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1912-01-19
CHAPTER xxIV.-(continued.)

A group was gathered about the
body In the rain. a single lantern
glimmering Two or three men had
started down the passageway. and
Keith met them. revolvers drawn and
rshspicious.
I Who are your" snapped one
sharply. Were you doing all that
shooting yonder?''
Keith recognized the voice. thank
fpl that he did SO.
Il fred at the fellow, but he got
o~ay onto the prairie. reckon you
Y opuldnt have done any better, Bill"
Jack Keith" and Hickock's voice
! Md new tone. his hand dropping on
tbe others shoulder. Never was
Bladder to meet fellow in my life.
Boys. this is an old deputy OF mine
0pwn in Dodge. When he gives up
! ohasin' murderer there Isn't much
ne our tryin. Let's go back. and find
Iii how bad the fellow is hurt While
we're feelin' our way. Jack. you might
Y tell us what you know about this AZ
} tlir."
\ lit was Just the fash OF a gun. and
The man dropped" Keith explained.
Q brieny. Il was ten or dozen feet
fio ehind. and the fellow fired from I'M
, Der the wagon there. He must have
been laying Tor some one-l reckon.
ebaybe. It was me.
y You? Then It's likely you have
some notion who he VAST"
4
ups were set tight. I'm not liable to
tnll you. II it's the lad | think likely.
rll attend TO the case myself You
Understandable is my personal af.
mir"
iiickock nodded. his hand again
Dressing the others shoulder.
Sure. Jack. II you feel that way.
There's enough doing here In sher..
ian to keep n marshal reasonably
ousy. without dippin' into private
battcrs. rather reckon you can
bike care OF yourself. but II you need
be. old boy. I'm always right here on
bhc Job. You know that"
Il do. Bill. and appreciate it,
The group about the motionlcss
pnarshal. the last man to rise saying
soberly:
Hes dead all right. Hickock. /
guess he never knew what hit him.
Good shootin. too. dark ns II IL here"
hN Had the range fixed. likely" no.
turned the marshal "ThatN what
wpinkes It look like II was arranged
for."
lie bent down. striving to dIsun.
euish the dead mans features turned
SEP to tho drizzle. but the night rc-
y sealed only the faintost outline
NJ Anybody know him7" There was
FcSo response. only shuflilng OF feet
~ the mud Here. you man with the
Eoh,nt.rn. hold II over whore can see.
Pdthcre. that IL better Now. you fol.
otbws take q look. and see II some OF
you cant name the poor devil"
They glanced down. one after the
hioihor. over Blll's shoulder. shading
ueir eyes from the rain 40 M TO neo
hsSlearcr, The light Of the nlckcring
Nantcrn Htronmod full on tho CHASTITY
tificc. but each man shook his head.
/. and passed on. Keith hung bnck. hop.
hg some ono would identity the body.
snd not make II necessary for him to
|o6nkc part In the growsomo taak. II
, tns not likely TO be amy one he knew.
tnd besides. he felt the man had died
O his stead. and he dreaded TO look
Upon the stricken face when tho last
ptN the group had drlftcd back out OF
|nne radius Of light. Hickock looked up
EeSnd saw him.
Here. Jack" he said. grayoly, you
scttef try-you might know him"
. Keith bent over and looked down.
ply " ho did 30 his heart seemed TO riao
"a Yhoking into his throat. and a blur
IN ybHepred hiH sisht lie swept a hand