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come in to get his amnesty。 See？ Well； he killed Red's brothershot 'im。
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Gledware's coming on to witness to it。 Willock will claim he done the
deed to save Gledware's lifehis and his little gal's。 But Gledware will
show it was otherwise。 Red told me all about it。 Brick's a murderer； and
worst of all； he's a murderer without an amnestythat's the only difference
between him and Red。 Well； old tap； I took my oath to do my duty。 You
know what that signifies。〃
〃But there's no truth in all this rot。 Brick HAD to shoot Kansas
Kimball〃
〃Well； let him show that in court。 My business is to take him alive。
That ain't all； that's just the preface。 Listen！ If you'll believe me； the stage
that Red and his pards was incoming here to swear out the warrant； they
wasthat there stage was set on by this friend of yoursyes； Brick has
gathered together some of his old pards and is a highwaymanwhy； he
shot one of Red's witnesses； and he shot the driver！〃
〃I know something about that holdup；〃 cried Wilfred scornfully。 〃It
must have been done by Indians。〃
〃Red SAW Brick amongst the gang。 He RECOGNIZED him。 Well；
Red and his other pard gets on horses they cuts loose； and comes like
lightning； and gets here； and tells the storyand maybe you think this
community ain't a…rearing and a…charging and a…sniffing for blood！ There'd
he more excitement against Brick Willock if there was more community；
but such as they is； is concentrated。〃
〃Mizzoo； listen to reason。 Don't you understand that Red wants
revenge； and has misrepresented this Indian attack to tally with his other
lies？〃
〃I wouldn't say nothing against Red； old tap。 It ain't gentlemanly to
call dead folk liars。〃
〃Dead folk！〃 echoed Wilfred； starting up。
〃I KNOWED you didn't understand that Red's off the trail forever；〃
Mizzoo rejoined gently。 〃I knowed you wouldn't be accusing him so
rancid； had you been posted on his funeral。〃
Wilfred felt a great relief； then a great wonder。
〃He's dead。 I don't say he's better off； I don't know； but I guess the
world is。 I don't like to censure them that's departed。 Brick Willock is still
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with us； and him the county can't say enough against。 His life wouldn't be
worth two bits if anybody laid eyes on 'im。 Consider his high…handed
doings。 Wasn't it enough in the past to kill Red's brother； but what he must
needs collect his pals； stop the stage…coach； shoot two men trying to get
Red； and one of 'em the innocent driver？ You say； yes。 But hold on； that
ain't all he done。 No； sir。 The very next day after Red swore out that
warrantand it was yesterday； if you ask MEwhat is saw； when we men
of Mangum comes out of our doors？ Three corpses lying on the sidewalk；
side by side。 You say； what corpses？ Wait。 I'm coming to that。 One was
that driver； one was the pard that got shot with the driver。 The other was
Red Kimball his own self。〃
〃I knew the bodies had been carried away from the trail；〃 exclaimed
Wilfred in perplexity。 He related his discoveries of the stormy night。
〃But you didn't know they had been brung to town all this distance to
be laid beside Red。 You didn't know Red had been stabbed so he could be
added； too。 You didn't know the three of them had been left on the street to
rile up every man with blood in his veins。 Why； Wilfred； it's an insult to
the whole state of Texas； Such high…handed doings ain't to be bore。 If
Brick Willock don't want to be tried in court； is that an excuse for killing
off all that might witness against him？ It might of been ONCE。 But we're
determined to have a county of law…abiding citizens。 Such free living has
got to be nipped in the bud； or we'll have another No… Man's Land。 We're
determined to live under the laws。 This is civilization。 The cattle business
is dead； land is getting tied up by title…deeds； the deer's gone； and there's
nothing left but civilization。 And I am theeras sheriff of Greer County I
am aI am the angel of civilization； you may say。〃
Mizzoo started up； too excited to notice Wilfred's suddenly distorted
face。 It was no time to display a sense of the ludicrous； the young man
hotly burst into passionate argument and reasonable hypothesis。〃
〃We've got civilization；〃 Mizzoo declared doggedly； 〃and we aim to
hold on to her； you bet！ There's going to be no such doings as three
corpses stretched out on the sidewalk for breakfast； not while I'm at the
helm。 How'd that look； if wrote up for the New York papers？ That ain't all…
…remember that ghost I used to worry my life out over； trying to meet up
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with on the trail？ Him； or her or it； that haunted every step of the way from
Abilene to the Gulf of Mexico？ It's a flitting； that ghost is！ Well； I don't
claim that no ghost is in my jurisdiction。 Brick's flesh and blood； there's
bone to him。 As my aunt （Miss Sue of Missouri） used to say； 'he's some
MAN。'〃
Waving aside Mizzoo's ghost； Wilfred elaborated his theory of an
Indian attack； described Brick's peaceable disposition； his gentleness to
Lahomathen dwelt on the friendship between himself and Brick； and the
relations between himself and Brick's ward。
〃It all comes to this；〃 Mizzoo declared： 〃if you could make me think
Willock a harmless lamb and as innocent； it wouldn't change conditions。
This neighborhood calls for his life and'd take it if in reach； and my
warrant calls for his arrest。 All I can promise is to get him； if possible；
behind the bars before the mob gets him in a rope。 As my aunt； whom I
have oft…times quoted my aunt （Miss Sue of Missouri； a woman of elegant
sense）'that's the word；' she used to say； 'with the bark on it！'〃
Wilfred permitted himself the pleasure of taunting Mizzoo with the
very evident truth that before Willock was hanged or imprisoned； he must
first be caught。
Mizzoo grinned good…naturedly。 〃Yap。 Well； we've got a clew locked
up in jail right now that could tell us something； I judge； and will tell us
something before set free； its name is Bill Atkins。 He's a wise old coon；
but as sour as a boiled owl；nothing as yet to be negotiated with him than
if he was a bobcat catched in a trap。 We're hoping time'll mellow him
time and the prospect of being took out and swung from the nearest limb
speaking literary； not by nature； as you know trees is as scarce about here
as Brick Willock himself。〃
Wilfred insisted on an immediate visit to Bill。 〃Brick declared he
wouldn't tell Bill his hiding…place；〃 he said； 〃for he didn't want to get him
into trouble。 He'll tell me if he knows anythingand if he doesn't； it's an
outrage to shut him up； old as he is； and as rheumatic as he's old。〃
On the way to the rudely improvised prison； Mizzoo defended himself。
〃He wasn't too old and rheumatic to fight like a wildcatwhy； he had to be
lifted up bodily and carried into his cell。 Not a word can we get out of him；
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or a bite of grub into him。 I believe that old codger's just too obstinate to
die！〃
When they reached the prison door； the crowd gathered about them；
eager for news； watching Mizzoo unfasten the door as if he were
unlocking the secret to Willock's whereabouts。 There were loud
imprecations on the head of the murderer； and fierce prophecies as to what
would happen to Bill if he preserved his incriminating silence。 It seemed
but a moment before hurrying forms from many directions packed
themselves into a mass before the jail。
The cells were in the basement。 The only entrance to the building was
by means of a flight of six steps leading to an unroofed platform before th