Then the question of what to do with the prisoner until morning arose. Joe pointed out that they could make no disposition of him, except to hold him in custody, until the coroner had held an inquest into the case and a conclusion had been reached by the jury. He suggested that they allow him to go to bed and get some needed sleep. That seemed to be a very sensible suggestion, according to Bill's view of it. But Sol didn't know whether it would be a regular proceeding and in strict accord with the forms of law. Indeed, he was of the opinion, after deliberating a while, that it would weaken the case materially. He was strongly in favor of handcuffs, or, in the absence of regulation manacles, a half-inch rope. After a great deal of discussion, during which Frost kept his hand officiously on Joe's shoulder, it was agreed that the prisoner should be allowed to go to bed. He was to be lodged in the spare room upstairs, the one lately occupied by Morgan. Frost escorted him to it, and locked the door. "Is they erry winder in that room?" asked Sol, when Bill came back. "Reckon so," said Frost, starting nervously. "I didn't look." "Better see," said Sol, getting up to investigate. They went round to the side of the house. Yes, there was a window, and it was wide open. But any doubt that the prisoner might have escaped through it was soon quieted by the sound of his snore. Joe had thrown himself across the bed, boots and all, and was already shoulder-deep in sleep. They decided that, at daylight, Sol's son should ride to the county-seat, seven miles distant, and notify the coroner. During the time they spent between Joe's retirement and daybreak, Sol improved the minutes by arraigning, convicting, and condemning Joe for the murder of old Isom. He did it so impressively that he had Constable Frost on edge over the tremendous responsibility that rested on his back. Bill was in a sweat, although the night was cool. He tiptoed around, listening, spying, prying; he stood looking up at Joe's window until his neck ached; he explored the yard for hidden weapons and treasure, and he peered and poked with a rake-handle into shrubbery and vines. They could hear the women upstairs talking once in a while, and now and again they caught the sound of a piteous moan. "She ain't seen him," said Sol; "I wouldn't let her come down. She may not be in no condition to look on a muss like that, her a young woman and only married a little while." Bill agreed on that, as he agreed on every hypothesis which Sol propounded out of his wisdom, now that his official heat had been raised. "If I hadn't got here when I did he'd 'a' skinned out with all of that money," said Sol. "He was standin' there with his hat in his hand, all ready to scoop it up." "How'd he come to go after me?" asked Bill. "Well, folks don't always do things on their own accord," said Sol, giving Bill an unmistakable look.