When 'Poleon Doret had forced his way by main strength out of the Gold Belt Saloon, he removed his cap and, turning his face to the wind, he breathed deeply of the cool, clean air. His brow was moist; he let the snowflakes fall upon it the while he shut his eyes and strove to think. Engaged thus, he heard Lucky Broad address him.
With the speaker was Kid Bridges; that they had come thither on the run was plain, for they were panting.
"What's this about Kirby?" Lucky gasped.
"We heard he's just been croaked!" the Kid exclaimed.
'Poleon nodded. "I seen it all. He had it comin' to him," and with a gesture he seemed to brush a hideous picture from before his eyes.
"Old Sam! DEAD!"
Broad, it seemed, was incredulous. He undertook to bore his way into the crowd that was pressing through the saloon door, but Doret seized him.
"Wait!" cried the latter. "Dat ain't all; dat ain't de worst."
"Say! Where's Letty?" Bridges inquired. "Was she with him when it happened? Does she know—"
"Dat's w'at I'm goin' tell you." In a few words 'Poleon made known the girl's condition, how he had happened to encounter her, and how he had been looking for her father when the tragedy occurred. His listeners showed their amazement and their concern.