on: "Draw and defend yourself," he said loudly. He shut his
eyes and a little puff of smoke seemed to spring from the end of his
fingers, followed ... by a sharp report.]

"Can't tell ... 'fraid not," Hammond answered, and a sympathetic
silence followed his announcement.

Someone cried: "Where's Casey?"

Word came that Casey was in jail. "He gave himself up," a man said.

Presently there was a sound of carriage wheels. A white-faced woman made
her way to the express office. The crowd stood with bared heads as it
opened a way for her passage. The woman was Mrs. King. They heard
her sobbing.

Gerberding and Nesbitt came and made their exit after a short stay.
Tears ran down Nesbitt's cheeks. "I told him so," they heard him
muttering, "I told him so.... He wouldn't listen.... Didn't take
his pistol."

Last of all came William Coleman, lips pressed tightly together, eyes
hard. He remained only a few moments. Benito hailed him as he emerged
from the express office.

"Any chance of recovery?"

"Very little." The tone was grim.

"I hate to think of what may happen if he dies?" Windham commented.

"Hell will break loose," Coleman stated with conviction. "Better come
along, Benito. I'm going to find Ike Bluxome. It's time we prepared."

CHAPTER XLII

THE COMMITTEE ORGANIZES

When Benito rode up Montgomery street next morning he saw a litter being
carried out of the Pacific Express Office. Beside it, were Mrs. King,
Dr. Hammond and John Sime. They walked very slowly and the crowd fell
back on either side as the litter-bearers progressed.

Benito's heart stood still a moment. "Is he--?" the question formed
reluctantly upon his lips. But David Broderick, standing by,
reassured him.

"No, not dead. Thank Heaven! They're taking him to more comfortable
quarters. A room in the Montgomery Block. They've postponed the
operation on the artery; as a last resort."

"Dave," said Windham, seriously, "do you suppose you'll be blamed for
this?"

"Good God, man! No," returned the other. "Not even Gwin would dare to
lay this at my door. There's no politics in it. At least none of mine."

"Yet Casey was one of your men. They'll say that."

"Let them," answered Broderick angrily. "I've no more to do with it than
you--nor Coleman, who, they tell me, is forming another Vigilance
Committee."

"Yes," said Windham. "They're to meet at the old Know Nothing Hall on
Sacramento street. I'm going there now."

"Well I'm bound