Merely then, while he discovered that anything strange used to be taking place, did Vanover strength himself to appear back. while he did, it was once to work out a braided band of black-and-white horsehair clenched tightly in Merrill’s hand, the hand that have been out of sight underneath his physique. “You’re a witness to this, Mister Vanover,” Lyans stated tonelessly. “He must’ve grabbed it simply as he was once hit. Who is aware the place it got here from? ” there have been seven males crowded round the physique now, those that were within the place of work plus one or extra who have been ready out right here. one in every of them spoke up instantly: “I wouldn’t swear it was once his, yet Joe Bonnyman used to possess a hatband much like that. ” “Don’t be a idiot, Corwine,” Clark Dunne stated softly, but explosively. “Joe couldn’t have performed this . . . wouldn’t. He’s no longer the type to membership a guy with the butt finish of a gun. along with, Blaze and that i have been with him whilst he climbed onto that overdue freight. He’s fifty miles from the following through now. ” “Let’s get this straight,” Lyans acknowledged fast, eying the fellow who had pointed out the hatband. “You’re convinced approximately this, Corwine? It’s Bonnyman’s? ” “Holy mackerel, no, I ain’t certain. I acknowledged it can be. ” “And them had a scrap tonight,” Lyans breathed, pondering aloud. unexpected decision confirmed on his face as he wheeled at the nearest guy. “Al, pass get Johns away from bed and all the way down to the station to cord the agent at Junction. He’s to determine if Bonnyman’s on that educate. She’s due at Junction at two-ten. If Bonnyman ain’t at the teach, inform Johns to get a record from the conductor on while he acquired off. ” He nodded to the guy who have been staring at the physique. “You and Bates hold him on all the way down to Hill’s, Ned. the remainder of you loaf around until eventually i am getting the document. We could have a few ridin’ to do sooner than mornin’. ” Ned and others have been lifting the physique, slung within the canvas, able to hold it on down the alley to the undertaker’s, ahead of a person spoke. It used to be Clark Dunne who stated gravely: “I’d cross effortless in this perspective, invoice. Joe isn’t a killer. He’s on that educate, I let you know. If that’s Joe’s hatband, there’s an excellent cause of its being right here. ” “Sure, sure,” Lyans drawled simply. “Only you don’t anticipate me to simply ignore it, do you? ” Jean Vanover have been awakened via the strident knocking at the entrance door, and used to be approximately to respond to it whilst she heard her father move the lounge. A second later she famous Roy Keech’s excited voice and, status on the head of the again hallway, stuck so much of what he acknowledged. a powerful foreboding took her as he advised of the theft, an intuitive feeling that the suspicions and hatreds eased by means of tonight’s contract among the ranchers and heart Arizona may possibly come alive back. yet, extra instantly vital, used to be the tragedy of Ed Merrill’s dying. As Lyans’s messenger complete giving Fred Vanover the short yet grisly evidence at the killing, Jean known as: “Dad, what’s being performed approximately Ruth? She’s there on my own on the lodge, isn’t she? may perhaps i am going stick with her? ” Keech spoke back out of the darkness: “That’d certain be a aid, ma’am. a long way as i do know, Lyans ain’t considered any strategy to inform her but.