Two days later, about eight o'clock in the morning, Sheriff Ulysses Watts bustled down the street wearing his official, rather than his common, or meat-wagon, air. He paused, to speak excitedly to Scattergood, who sat as usual on the piazza of his hardware store. "They've jest found Asa Levens's body," he ejaculated. "A-layin' clost to the road it was, with a bullet through the head. Clear case of murder.... I'm gatherin' a posse to fetch in the murderer." "Murderer's known, is he?" said Scattergood, leaning forward, and eying the sheriff. "Abner, of course. Who else would 'a' done it? Hain't he been a-threatenin' right along?" "Anybody see him fire the shot, Sheriff? Any witnesses?" "Nary witness. Nothin' but the body a-layin' where it fell." "What was the manner of this shootin', Sheriff?" "All I know's what I've told you." "Gatherin' a posse, Ulysses? Who be you selectin'?" "Various and sundry," said the sheriff. "Any objection to deputizin' me?" said Scattergood. "Any notion I might help some?" "Glad to have you, Scattergood.... Got to hustle. Most likely the murderer's escapin' this minute." "Um!..." said Scattergood. "Need any catridges or anythin' in the hardware line, Sheriff? Figgerin' on goin' armed, hain't you?" "Dunno but what the boys'll need somethin'. You keep open till I gather 'em here." "I carry the most reliable line of catridges in the state," said Scattergood. "Prices low.... I'll be waitin', Sheriff." In twenty minutes a dozen citizens of the vicinage gathered at Scattergood's store, each armed with his favorite weapon, rifle or double-barreled shotgun, and each wearing what he fancied to be the air of a dangerous and resolute citizen. "Calc'late he'll be desprit," said Jed Lewis. "He won't be took without a fight." It was characteristic of Scattergood that he delayed the setting out of the posse until, by his peculiar methods of salesmanship, he had pressed upon various members lethal merchandise to a value of upward of twenty dollars. This being done, they entered a big picnic wagon with parallel seats and set out for the scene of the crime. Coroner Bogle demanded that the body should be viewed officially before the man-hunt should begin. Scattergood threw the weight of his opinion with the coroner. The body was found lying beside a narrow path leading from the road through a field to Asa Levens's farmhouse; it lay upon its face, with arms outstretched, very still and very peaceful, with the morning sun shining down upon it, and the robins singing from shadowing trees, and insects buzzing and whirring cheerfully in the fields, and the fields themselves peaceful and beautiful in their golden embellishments, ready for the harvest. Scattergood looked about him at the trappings of the day, and the thought came unbidden that it was a pleasant spot in which to die ... perhaps more pleasant than the dead man deserved. "Shot from behind." said the sheriff. "By somebody a-layin' in wait," said Jed Lewis.