yere, 'cept maybe a few coins that rolled tinder the table. It wasn't
Joe Kirby who picked up the swag, fer I was a watchin' him, an' he
never onct let go ov his gun. Thet damn sneak Carver must a did it,
an' then the two ov 'em just sorter nat'rally faded away through that
door thar."

McAfee swore through his black beard, the full truth swiftly dawning
upon him.

"Hell!" he exploded. "So that's the way of it. Then them two wus in
cahoots frum the beginnin'. That's what I told the Jedge last night,
but he said he didn't give a whoop; thet he knew more poker than both
ov 'em put tergether. I tell yer them fellers stole that money, an'
they killed Beaucaire--"

"Hold on a minute," I broke in, my mind cleared of its first passion,
and realizing the necessity of control. "Let's keep cool, and go slow.
While I believe McAfee is right, we are not going to bring the Judge
back to life by turning into a mob. There is no proof of cheating, and
Kirby has the law behind him. Let me talk to the captain about what
had best be done."

"Who, Thockmorton?"

"Yes; he'll know the better action for us to take. He's level-headed,
and an old friend of Beaucaire's."

"I'm fer swingin' that damn gambler up, without askin' nobody," shouted
a fellow fiercely. "He's bin raisin' hell frum one end o' this river
ter the other fer ten years. A rope is whut he needs."