at shooting
yonder?"

Keith recognized the voice, thankful that he did so.

"I fired at the fellow, but he got away onto the prairie. I reckon you
couldn't have done any better, Bill."

"Jack Keith!" and Hickock's voice had a new tone, his hand dropping on
the other's 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 affair."

"It was just the flash of a gun, and the man dropped," Keith explained,
briefly. "I was ten or a dozen feet behind, and the fellow fired from
under the wagon there. He must have been laying for some one--I reckon,
maybe, it was me."

"You? Then it's likely you have some notion who he was?"

"Well, if I have, Bill," and Keith's lips were set tight, "I'm not
liable to tell you. If it's the lad I think likely, I'll attend to the
case myself. You understand--this is my personal affair."

Hickock nodded, his hand again pressing the other's shoulder

"Sure, Jack, if you feel that way. There's enough in Sheridan to keep a
marshal reasonably busy, without dippin' into private matters. I 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."

"I 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:

"He's dead all right, Hickock. I guess he never knew what hit him. Good
shootin', too, dark as it is here."

"Had the range fixed, likely," returned the marshal. "That's what makes
it look like it was arranged for."

He bent down, striving to distinguish the dead man's features turned up
to the drizzle, but the night revealed the faintest outline.

"Anybody know him?" There was no response, only a shuffling of feet in
the mud. "Here you man with the lantern, hold it over where I can see.
There, that is better. Now, you fellows take a look, and see if some of
you can't name the poor devil."

They glanced down, one after the other, over Bill's shoulder, shading
their eyes from the rain so as to see clearer. The light of the
flickering lantern streamed full on the ghastly face, but each man shook
his head, and passed on. Keith hung back, hoping some one would identify
the body, and