Page:Morley roberts--Painted Rock.djvu/205

 wondered that there was no one about. They must have come to the conclusion at the American Saloon that I was crazy and not to be taken notice of. I walked back into the store. I couldn't understand how it was that Weekes was dead. I had seen Smith strike him with the butt of his "gun." Who had fired the shot?

Gillett was sitting on the dry goods counter, swinging his heels and whistling.

"That was well played," said Gillett coolly. "There will be peace in Painted Rock this night."

Smith annexed a quarter cigar from a box and salved his conscience by dropping in a nickel.

"Who killed Weekes?" I asked.

"Nobody killed him," said Gillett scornfully. " I thought you tumbled to the racket. He ain't dead. Smith downed him with the butt, and I pulled off to give it reality."

Weekes groaned.

"Call that dead, eh?" asked Gillett callously.