raid plainly. "Annersley shot to scare 'em off--but the kid shot to
kill," he argued. "And dam' if I blame him."

Later, when Young Pete was able to talk, he was questioned by the
sheriff. He told of the raid, of the burning of the outbuildings, and
how Annersley had been killed. When questioned as to his own share in
the proceedings, Pete refused to answer. When shown the two guns and
asked which was his, he invariably replied, "Both of 'em," nor could he
be made to answer otherwise. Finally Sheriff Sutton gave it up, partly
because of public opinion, which was in open sympathy with Young Pete,
and partly because he feared that in case arrests were made, and Pete
were called as a witness, the boy would tell in court more than he had
thus far divulged. The sheriff thought that Pete was able to identify
one or more of the men who had entered the cabin, if he cared to do so.
As it was, Young Pete was crafty. Already he distrusted the sheriff's
sincerity. Then, the fact that two of the T-Bar-T men had been killed
rather quieted the public mind, which expressed itself as pretty well
satisfied that old man Annersley's account was squared. He or the boy
had "got" two of the enemy. In fact, it was more or less of a joke on
the T-Bar-T outfit--they should have known better.

An inquest decided that Annersley had come to his death at the hands of
parties unknown. The matter was eventually shunted to one of the many
legal sidings along the single-track law that operated in that
vicinity. Annersley's effects were sold at auction and the proceeds
used to bury him. His homestead reverted to the Government, there
being no legal heir. Young Pete was again homeless, save for the
kindness of the storekeeper, who set him to work helping about the
place.