Without knowing that he did it, Johnny flung a beseeching hand toward Molly. A shriek answered him and he saw her topple over upon her bed. The men were running from the bunk-house. There was nothing left for the boy to do but go.
From the cover of the willows by the creek he could see men moving about with lanterns. Cries came to him, and above others, the sound of Kent yelling:
“A ghost, I tell yuh! He’s come back to haunt me! Don’t laugh at me! Don’t laugh!” And Kent’s cry rose until it broke in a fit of choking.
“Take him inside,” came an order in Hobe’s voice. “He’s babblin’ like a child.”
The old man fought them off as they tried to lift him.
“He’s here!” he cried. “I heard him! Don’t let him git me. Molly, Molly, I didn’t do it. Gallup paid Madeiras to kill him. I swear I didn’t do it. I swear——”
The old man’s cries died away in a moan of anguish. The door banged and Johnny knew that they had taken him to his room.
A cold sweat broke out on Johnny. It had never occurred to him that this construction would be put on his appearance. Was it possible that this was the very thing Tony had had in mind when he shot him? The sight of him had frightened Kent out of his wits.
What would happen if he appeared before Gallup in the dead of night in similar fashion? Gallup had paid Madeiras to murder him.
Johnny cursed Gallup as he led his horse away from the ranch.