“Not exactly a detective. Leach seemed to think that I could kinda clean up some of the crime around here; so here I am.” “You with the Cattle Association, Santel?” queried Brick. “No. I’m not connected with any outfit right now. The men in the association are too well known.” “I s’pose,” nodded Brick thoughtfully. “Still yuh wasn’t able to find the right road, yuh know.” Santel laughed softly. “That’s right, sheriff.” “Grant, you heard about Baldy Malloy, didn’t yuh?” Grant hadn’t. He and Santel had just ridden in from Grant’s ranch, the old Star-Dot, located about six miles due north from Marlin City, on Whispering Creek. It did not take Brick long to tell of the wreck, the finding of Malloy’s body and of their futile search for the youngster. “Well, how in the —— did Malloy happen to drive off the grade?” wondered Grant. “He was a good driver.” “I dunno,” sighed Brick. “It was one awful smash-up.” “Was it back on those grades beyond where I met yuh?” asked Santel. “Uh-huh. About the highest point.” “Where’s the body?” asked Grant. “Down at Doc Meyers’ office.” “Let’s go and look at it,” suggested Santel. * * * * * They walked down to the office and the doctor met them at the door. Malloy’s body had been laid out on some planks, and a heavy sheet thrown over it. The doctor threw back the sheet enough to disclose the head, but not enough to show any of the body. Santel stepped in close and peered at the face of the dead man. Brick noticed the muscles of Santel’s jaw set tightly and the blood quickly drained from his face. Grant was talking to the doctor and did not notice this. For several moments Santel stared into the face of the dead man before he slowly drew back and turned away. Grant had stepped in closer and was looking closely. Then he grasped the sheet and drew it down, exposing the bare chest and arms. “What the —— is this?” he grunted, turning to the doctor. “This man has been shot.” Santel whirled quickly and leaned forward, looking at the blue circle on the dead man’s breast. Grant had turned and was staring at Brick and the doctor. “We both knew it, Grant,” said Brick slowly. “Somebody shot Baldy through the heart before he went off the grade; and we thought it might be easier to find out who done it, if it wasn’t generally known that such a thing was done.” Grant squinted thoughtfully, half-nodding in agreement. “He never knew what hit him,” said the doctor softly. “It was a center shot.” “A forty-five,” added Brick quickly. Santel’s right hand dropped to his holster, but jerked away. “You shoot a forty-five?” asked Brick. Santel’s eyes slowly turned to Brick, a narrow-eyed stare and a slow nod. “Yeah,” he said hoarsely. “I shoot a forty-five.” “A lot of us do, Santel,” said Brick slowly. “Do yuh think it was a hold-up?” queried Grant. “We won’t know until we find out what Baldy was carryin’ from Silverton.”