"Come on, Judd," he said kindly--"all of you."
Dazed and mystified, they followed him in a body around the corner
of the jail, where in a coffin, that old Jadd had sent as a blind
to his real purpose, lay the remains of Bad Rufe Tolliver with a
harmless bullet hole through one shoulder. Near by was a wagon and
hitched to it were two mules that Hale himself had provided. Hale
pointed to it:
"I've done all I could, Judd. Take him away. I'll keep the Falins
under guard until you reach the Kentucky line, so that they can't
waylay you."
If old Judd heard, he gave no sign. He was looking down at the
face of his foster-brother--his shoulder drooped, his great frame
shrunken, and his iron face beaten and helpless. Again Hale spoke:
"I'm sorry for all this. I'm even sorry that your man was not a
better shot."
The old man straightened then and with a gesture he motioned young
Dave to the foot of the coffin and stooped himself at the head.
Past the wagon they went, the crowd giving way before them, and
with the dead Tolliver on their shoulders, old Judd and young Dave
passed with their followers out of sight.
Pages:
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378