Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-10-31
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
suspicious.
WHO are your" snapped one
sharply. Were you doing all that
shooting yonder?"
Keith recognized the voice. thank
full that he did so.
Il 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 a new tone. his hand dropping on
the others shoulder. Never was
gladder to meet a fellow in my life.
Boys. this is an old deputy OF mine
down in Dodge. When he gives up
chasin' a murderer there isn't much
use our tryin'. Let's go back. and find
out how bad the fellow is hurt While
we're feelin' our way. Jack. you might
tell us what you know about this af-
tair."
1T was just the fash of a gun. and
the man dropped" Keith explained.
briefly. 81 was ten or a dozen feet
behind. and the fellow fired from I'M
der the wagon there. He must have
been laying for some one-l reckon
maybe. it was me"
You? Then it's likely you have
some notion who he was?"
We'll. If | have. Bill" and Keith's
lips we're set tight. I'm not liable to
tell you. If it's the lad ! think likely.
I'll attend TO the case myself. You
understandable is my personal af-
fair"
Hickock nodded, his hand again
pressing the others shoulder.
Sure, Jack. If you feel that way.
There's enough doing here in Sheri-
dan to keep a marshal reasonably
busy. without dippin' into private
matters. | rather reckon you car
n care of yourself. but II you need
me. old boy. I'm always right here on
the Job. You know that"
81 do. Bill. and appreciate It."
The group about the motionless
body fell away. and made room for the
marshal. the last man to rise saying
soberly:
Hes dead all right. Hickock.
guess he never knew what hit him
I Good shootin'. too, dark as It is here.
Had the range fixed. likely" re
turned he marshal. That's wha
. makes it look like 1t was arrangeI
for"
: He bent down. striving TO distir
c,ieh the dead mans features turne
[ IN 10 the drizzle, but the night re
r vealed only the faintest outline.
ANYBODY know him?" There wa
M resnonse, only a shutting of fee
IN the mud. Here. you man with tn
,,rtern. hold II over where ! can SCI
There that is better. Now. o fe
:, ,ows take a look. and see II some
. Won can't name the poor devil"
they glanced down. n after II
o,hor over Bills shoulder. shadin
q their eyes from the rain so as to sc
clearer. The light Of the fickerir
. ,ap,e-u streamed full on the ghast
: toca hut each man shook his hea
" and nassed on. Keith hung back. no
. ,ny some one would identify the bod
- and not make 1t necessary for him
20 take mart in the grewsome task.
was not likely to be any one he kne'
and besides. he felt the man had oil
. in his stead. and he dreaded to LOO
II upon the stricken face. When the Ia
10 Of the GROUP had drifted back out
IT. Tho radius of light. Hickock looked
~ and saw him. .,.
tn Here. Jack" he said. graveiy' vt
%. hotter try-you might know him.
70. Keith bent over and looked dow
w. AS he did so his heart seemed 10 7,
I" choking into his throat. and a pi
obscured his sight. He swept 3 Ia