It was late when he reached the outskirts of Manti. He halted Nigger in
the shadow of a shed a hundred yards or so down the track from the
courthouse, dismounted and made his way cautiously down the railroad
tracks. He was beyond the radius of the lights from various windows that
he passed, but he moved stealthily, not knowing whether Corrigan had
stationed guards about the courthouse, as Levins had warned. An instant
after reaching a point opposite the courthouse he congratulated himself on
his discretion, for he caught a glimmer of light at the edge of a window
shade in the courthouse, saw several indistinct figures congregated at the
side door, outside. He slipped behind a tool shed at the side of the
track, and crouching there, watched and listened. A mumbling of voices
reached him, but he could distinguish no word. But it was evident that the
men outside were awaiting the reappearance of one of their number who had
gone into the building.
Trevison watched, impatiently. Then presently the side door opened,
letting out a flood of light, which bathed the figures of the waiting men.
Trevison scowled, for he recognized them as Corrigan's deputies. But he
was not surprised, for he had half expected them to be hanging around the
building. Two figures stepped down from the door as he watched, and he
knew them for Corrigan and Gieger. Corrigan's voice reached him.
"The lock on this door is broken. I had to kick it in this morning. One of
you stay inside, here. The rest of you scatter and keep your eyes peeled.
There's trickery afoot. Judge Lindman didn't go to Dry Bottom--the agent
says he's sure of that because he saw every man that's got aboard a train
here within the last twenty-four hours--and Judge Lindman wasn't among
them! Levins was, though; he left on the one-thirty this morning and got
back on the six-o'clock, tonight." He vanished into the darkness beyond
the door, but called back: "I'll be within call. Don't be afraid to shoot
if you see anything suspicious!"
Trevison saw a man enter the building, and the light was blotted out by
the closing of the door. When his eyes were again accustomed to the
darkness he observed that the men were standing close together--they
seemed to be holding a conference. Then the group split up, three going
toward the front of the building; two remaining near the side door, and
two others walking around to the rear.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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