tion. They've got most things beat
before they start."

"This one?"

Kars settled himself in a chair opposite his visitor. His manner was
that of a man prepared to listen rather than talk. He stretched his
long legs comfortably.

"I said 'most.' No-o, not this one. That's the trouble. That's why I
wrote you. The police are asking a question. And they've got to find
an answer. Who fired the shots that shut out that boy's lights?"

Kars' brows were raised. An incredulous look searched the other's face.

"Why, that 'gunman'--surely."

Bill shook his head. He had been probing a vest pocket. Now he
produced a small object, and handed it across to the other with a keen
demand.

"What's that?" His eyes were twinkling alertly.

Kars took the object and examined it closely under the electric light.
After a prolonged scrutiny he handed it back.

"The bullet of a 'thirty-two' automatic," he said.

"Sure. Dead right. The latest invention for toughs to hand out murder
with. The police don't figger there's six of them in Leaping Horse."

"I brought one with me this trip. They're quick an' handy. But--that?"

"That?" Bill held the bullet poised, gazing at it while he spoke. "I
dug that out of that boy's lung. There's another of 'em, I guess. The
police have that. They dug theirs out of the woodwork right behind
where young Alec was standing. It was that opened his head out. Those
two shots handed him his dose. And the other feller--why, the other
feller was _armed with a forty-five Colt_."

There was nothing dramatic in the manner of the statement. Bill spoke
with all his usual calm. He was merely stating the facts which had
been revealed at the investigation.

Kars' only outward sign was a stirring of his great body. The
significance had penetrated deeply. He realized the necessity of his
friend's note.

Bill went on.

"If we'd only seen it all," he regretted. "If we'd seen the shots
fired, we'd have been a deal wiser. I'm figgering if we hadn't quit
our seats we'd have been wise--much wiser. But we quit them, and it's
no use figgering that way. The police have been reconstructing.
They're reconstructing right now. There's a thing or two stands right
out," he went on reflectively. "And they're mostly illuminating.
First Alec was quicker with his gun than the other feller. He did that
'gunman' up like a streak of lightning. He didn't take a chance.
Where he learned his play I c