It was so dark that nobody knew whether McCoy or I shot Gilroy. McCoy protected me, and said we were all to blame, since we had come together. He never did tell who did the shooting. I looked at his gun a little later, and saw that he had not fired a shot from first to last. I am making this statement of my own free will, and under no compulsion whatever. I am of sound mind and body, except for a bullet wound in my leg that is getting better. My only reason for making it is that I want to see justice done. The others have suffered too much already for what I did. Falkner signed the statement. It was witnessed by Jennings and the two deputies. Mrs. Stovall added the notarial seal of her office to it. Ruth put her head down on the little table where the medicines were and cried like a child. At last—at last Rowan would be free to come home to her. Her long, long waiting was at an end. She could begin to count the days now till her lover would be with her again. CHAPTER XXXIII GOOD NEWS RUTH telephoned a message down to Wagon Wheel to be wired to Governor McDowell that night. It was impossible for her to sleep, and after she had packed she lay awake for hours planning the fight for Rowan’s freedom. She found herself framing a passionate plea to the governor and the board of pardons for justice to her husband. She visualized the scene until it became so real that she had to rise from bed, get into a loose gown, and take notes of what she must tell them. Not till nearly two o’clock did she fall into a broken sleep. The sheriff drove her and the baby to town next morning. From here she sent Louise a telegram to tell her they were on the way to Cheyenne. Matson, with strong letters in his pocket from Haight and the district judge recommending clemency, took the noon train also to add the weight of his influence. When the train rolled into the station at Cheyenne, Louise was waiting for them in her car. She and Ruth, after the manner of their sex, shed a few happy tears together in each other’s arms, while Matson, rawboned and awkward, stood near holding Rowan, junior. “The board of pardons is to meet this afternoon in Phil’s office, and you and Mr. Matson are to have a hearing before it,” her friend told Ruth. “It’s going to be all right this time, I do believe. I can see Phil means to be reasonable. He’d better. I told him I was going over to the ranch to live with you if he didn’t pardon Rowan.” “What does he say?” “He says that if Falkner’s statement is as strong as your wire claimed the board will have to free all four. Phil wants to push the whole thing through as quick as he can for you.” “That’s fine,” commented Matson. “Will it be a parole or a pardon?”