Johnny might have spared himself this misery, for Molly knew more than he suspected, and explanations, which Johnny dreaded, were to be spared him.
She ran toward him, arms outstretched, as he jumped down from his horse. “Oh, Johnny,” she said sadly, “it’s been a terrible day. I think I’ll break down completely if you don’t get me home at once. I was on the ridge with Mr. Ames when you walked into Thunder Bird’s camp. I wasn’t afraid for you. The chief had told me so many things this day that I knew he was your friend. What did they do with Gallup?”
“They arrested him for the Traynor murder. Aaron shot Gale this mornin’, and Toby confessed before he died.”
“It didn’t need that, though, from what I’ve been told, to convict him. You proved your case against him. What a beast he has been. And—him—what have they done with him?”
Although he suspected she referred to Kent, Johnny stared blankly at Molly.
“I—I mean Kent,” she went on. “He was with Gallup this morning.”
“Why—er—he’s pretty bad off, I—er——”
“Is he dead, Johnny? Tell me the truth.”
Johnny nodded his head slowly. “Yes,” he muttered, “he’s dead. He tried to kill me. Tony got him.”
Molly bit her lip in a vain effort to keep the tears back.