“Well, then, and who’s the two men that could convict Wellman and get him hung a mile high?” The saloon man pointed out triumphantly. “Who, now? Why, Bart Lassiter! And Carver! I’d never want it said that it come from me; it’s only between us three. But who is it that knows Freel led the shooting when some of Mattison’s men was killed at the same time Wellman was wrecking the bridge? Whoever knew that would be dangerous to Freel, wouldn’t he? See how it all works out?” The two nodded agreement. “There’s a dozen of Carver’s close neighbors that swear he was home the whole day of that Wharton business that Freel was trying to connect him up with,” one volunteered. “I guess Freel seen it wouldn’t do any good to have him put under arrest.” “Arrest! Listen!” and Jimmy leaned farther over the bar. “That was months back. It’s no arrest that he wants. Didn’t I say there was due to be a killing? He was just paving the way for it. Mark me, now! Some day we all will hear that Carver and Bart has been arrested--dead!” He lowered his voice still farther. “The fellow that left his horse out there while he waited for Carver was wearing a deputy’s badge under his vest. But he didn’t appear anxious to arrest Carver alive.” Jimmy sighed and passed the two men a drink on the house. Later he would charge that bit of hospitality against the sum Carver had left with him for the purpose. “Of course I wouldn’t want to be quoted,” he concluded. “But a bartender hears things. Folks get to talking over their drinks. Most always they do.” It was perhaps the hundreth time he had detailed his conclusions to different customers in the past two months. In various parts of the country others of Carver’s friends had been similarly occupied in breathing their suspicions into willing ears. It was being asked why no arrests were made in the county except for minor offences. The settlers, since their first crop was harvested and they had more leisure time to devote to affairs outside their own personal labors, were giving thought as to the manner in which the county seat was managed; and their opinions were being furnished ready made.