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The face of the woman in black was the original of the photograph Kirby had seen in his uncle's room, the one upon which had been written the words, "Always, Phyllis." The rest of the coroner's inquest was anticlimax. Those who had come to tickle their palates with excitement tasted only one other moment of it.
The young woman turned to him eagerly, a warm glow in her shell-pink cheeks. "Well?" she inquired. "Worked out fine, Rose," Kirby said. "I could see the whole thing." "Still, that don't prove anything," the other man put in. He belonged to the staff of the private detective agency with which Kirby was dealing. The Wyoming man smiled. "It proves my theory is possible.
I'd like to see you try it; I sure would!" "He's got you on a stand-off, I'd say," Kirby remarked. "My, ain't he the tough one though, horns sticking up an' haired all over! Gentlemen " he had glanced over their shoulder and was watching whatever was there "company comin'. Mind your manners!" Drew looked around. His hand clamped tighter on Boyd, keeping him pinned on his back.
No one thought of asking where that silly young man was probably under some table. Their numbers were swelled by quite a host going along, for heavy bets were on the affair, dozens having backed Kirby; and it must have appeared serious to them, with the lady in custody, and constables on the look-out, and Kirby and his men nowhere in sight.
When do you think that steamer could have landed here?" "Why, perhaps early last evening." "And it has not occurred to you that the boat might have waited here while the man Kirby went ashore?" "No; that could scarcely be true, if the steamer was transporting troops; what was it you were thinking about?"
Stand off, I bid ye, said Natty; you know my aim, Billy Kirby; I dont crave your blood, but mine and yourn both shall turn this green grass red, afore you put foot into the hut. While the affair appeared trifling, the wood-chopper seemed disposed to take sides with the weaker party; but, when the firearms were introduced, his manner very sensibly changed.
The men from these States might be expected to leave us, and small blame to them; while from the interior of Texas we could give no more aid to our brethren on the east of the Mississippi than from the Sandwich Islands. General Kirby Smith did not insist on the adoption of either of his own suggestions, nor express an approval of mine; but when Mansfield was reached, a decision became necessary.
"They're laggin'. Better give 'em somethin' to try an' bite on!" He brought his bay to a complete stop and aimed. When his carbine barked, a horse neighed and went down. Then Kirby flinched, his weapon fell from his hand, and he caught quickly at the horn of his saddle. From the foremost of the blue riders there was a wild yell of exultation.
A horseman looked over the heads of the crowd to the four troopers. "Passin' through, suh. Leastwise we was, until greeted " Kirby answered courteously. Drew assessed the questioner's well-cut riding clothes, his good linen, and fine gloves. The rider was middle-aged, his authority more evident because of that fact.
The overturned table and chairs, the motionless body of the fallen man, with Kirby standing erect just beyond, his face as clear-cut under the glare of light as a cameo, the revolver yet glistening in his extended hand, all composed a picture not easily forgotten. Still, this impression was only that of a brief instant.
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