Scattergood Baines

ecially reinforced to sustain his weight, seemed to passing Coldriver village to be drowsing. Many people suspected S

bor in times of peace and for performing feats of arms in time of war. He looked like a fighter; he was a fighter-a willing fighter, and folks up and down the valley stepped aside if it was noised about that Abner Levens had broken loose. It was not that Abner delighted in

mper thoroughly and seemed unable to locate it again for days. He rampaged. He roared up and down the valley, inviting one and all to step

y's work to a friend; who performed his civic and religious duties punctiliously, if gayly; who was honest to the fraction of a penny; and who would have been th

might say, apprehensively, for Scattergood liked the youth and fe

stopped, eyed Scattergood, a

ns 's in to

answered S

te Asa'l

tidy night, 'most

shrewd little gray eyes which gave direct contradiction to his words. "If Abner hain't

ver fit yet," s

. He's full as big as Abner, too. Othe

rotherly feeli

ke bad blood betwixt relatives.... Asa got the best of that argument, anyhow. Don't seem fair, exactly, is my o

got het up about the same gal. Looks to me like one or tother of 'em took up with

er he lets on public and constant that he's a-goin' to nail Asa's hid

f 'em Mary Ware favors? If she favors either

eeks, than to be married to a cuss like Asa that jest goes along sort of gloomy and still and seekin'. I hain't never heard Asa laugh with no real enjo

said Sc

ndle Abner all right, too. Call to mind the firemen's picnic last year when she went wi

lf-wit Stenens of nigh on to t

like that she said it, quiet and gentle, but firm. Abner he let loose of the feller and turned to look at her, and in a minute all the fight went out of his face and his eyes like somebody h

his creaking chair and started across the bridge. "If it's a-comin'

hin lips twist in a provocative sneer. Abner halted suddenly, at arm's length fro

took in these words and pondered them. Did they mean some new cause for enmity between the brothers? Suddenly Abner's eyes began to kindle and to blaze. A

Scattergood took possession of this sentence and placed it in the safety-deposit box o

eatened it often. But now! by Gawd, I'm goin' to take you apart so's nobody kin put you together ag'in ... you mis'able,

continued to smile his c

room in here,"

m goin' to fix you so's nobody kin ever accuse flesh and

ly, "is that I got the best farm and

goin' to half kill you on account of your lyin' to father, nor on account of her-it's on account of her." The sentence seemed without sense or meaning, but Scattergood placed it with his other collected sentences; he did no

d.... Before a blow was struck, a girl, tall, slender, deep-bosomed, fit mate for a man of might, pushed through the circle of spectators. Her face was pale and distressed, but very

she sai

s time" he said. "Go away, Mary." Even in his

" she r

," he said, evenly, "but there will be another t

gain. "Abner!" she said once more; and obediently as some well-trained mastiff he followed her

the street wearing his official, rather than his common, or meat-wagon, air. He paused,

clost to the road it was, with a bullet through the head. Clear c

aid Scattergood, leaning for

ould 'a' done it? Hain't he b

ire the shot, Sher

n' but the body a-la

nner of this sho

's what I'v

e, Ulysses? Who b

sundry," said

' me?" said Scattergood. "A

. Got to hustle. Most likely the

dges or anythin' in the hardware line, She

need somethin'. You keep o

dges in the state," said Scattergood. "P

ore, each armed with his favorite weapon, rifle or double-barreled shotgun, and

," said Jed Lewis. "He won'

s 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 c

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,

ehind." said

layin' in wait,

d-blooded murder,"

as the coroner turned the fa

. "It may be murder.... Asa Levens wears, as h

at little group to c

struggle," sai

d he was shot,"

to arrest Abner Leve

t, didn't he? Who else

aid Scattergo

the posse re-entered its picnic van and drove with no small trepidation toward Abner L

d the sheriff; "or maybe he wasn

; but as Abner was armed with nothing more lethal than a hoe there was some appearance of embarrassment amon

oward Abner, who leaned upon his hoe and waited for them. "Abner Levens," said t

o another of the posse in silence. It seemed as if h

evens is de

ttergood Baines noted that Abner called his brother by name as if de

er than anybody,"

, and beyond to the green slopes of the mountains as they upreared distinct,

. "Now I know that God is not infinite in e

ou say kin be used ag'in' you," said the

e," said Abner. "If

marveled at it, for it was not the demeanor of a man-even of an innocent man-accused of a crime for which the penalty was death. Abner sat upon the hard bench

either affirmed nor denied his guilt; indeed, he had uttere

n through the window of the jai

d, so that all might hear, "and if you still want me, Abner

r replied. "Now I gues

I do, Abner-

took aholt of matters. Better le

ther could get more out of him, and it wa

There were those in town who voiced the wish that it had been some other than Abner who had killed Asa Levens. "His gun's

od Baines's hardware store, and there to stop and address Scattergood, who sat ba

, "you've helped other

Mary? What ki

't guilty,

?... Abner t

N

?" He did not permit her to reply, but asked another

ow it," she r

's mighty hard to know anythi

I know,"

convince

moment, and then turned away

in you think of anythin' that might conv

d. "Asa was sh

rgood

hind," s

ood nodd

is head. "If Abner had killed Asa," she went on, "he would have done it

, "but the jury'll be strangers." He paused, and asked,

hated him,"

er say anyt

ld of matters and we'd be

rs he mostly uses human bein's to d

ent," said Mar

o.... Me

p me clear hi

isfied. Calculate I'd like to know the truth myself. Had a look

" Mary asked, with

d Scattergoo

t was a mark put on Asa Levens's face as a

aid Scattergood, with solemnity. "It s

ended. "The truth will d

last Tuesday to you

N

ens last Tuesday?

N

erday, 'It's not on account of

n't k

nded a conversation, abruptly, but as one became acc

Mary, and she we

ward evening, Scattergood sauntere

waterin' Asa Levens

clean forgit 'em," c

objection? Hoss might need exercisin'. Can't never tell

eged," said S

ggy and mounted to the seat. "Giddap," he said to the mare, and dropped the reins on her back. She started out of the gate and turned toward town. Scattergood let the reins

ore than a tote road. Half a mile later she stopped with her nose against the fence of a shabby farmhouse, and sagged down, as is the custom of h

in the door of the house, and over his shoulder Sca

d Scattergood. "Ev

ectin' to see you. What fetche

of my own free will, seems as though. Kind of tired, Jed.

he young woman, who was Jed Briggs's wife, a woman

and look her over." He raised himself to his feet, an

" said Scatte

ed, shrilly, unpleasantly, as

id Jed Bri

tly. "It's Asa Levens's mare

good Baines," said Jed Briggs.

Didn't know where, but I mistrusted she'd been to that place frequent. J

ed Briggs in a

die.... He deserved to die ..." the you

n to lodge Tues

es

y lodge night,

way.... When Jed was here he'd jest set eyin' me and

said Jed, as if that explained someth

your int'

sa was threaten

d 'a' starved, 'cause Jed hain't strong. It's me does most of the work.... What

t," said Scattergood,

indy," s

k," said Scattergood. "You'd better tel

d clutched her husband; Jed Briggs st

friend, Jed Briggs.... Better tell me than the s

ouldn't hardly b'lieve my ears." Jed was talking wildly, pitifully. "Lindy was a-layin' on the floor, sobbin', when I come home, and she was afear

ace," he said. "But what about Abner? Wa'n't goin' to

his hoss and accused his brother to his face.... He listened quiet-like, and then he laughed. That's what Abner done, he laughed.... When I

riggs better fix up and drive to town with me.... Don't be afeard. Right'll be done, and there hain't no more sufferin' falli

body Jed Briggs and Lindy, his wife, told their story under oath to ears that credited the truth of their words bec

act of God, and that there are found no reason

wnship; legal authority recognized the right of Deity

said, clinging openly and unashamed to Abner

accusin' the husband of this woman?... I calc'lated God meant to de

t strict about mindin' their own business was gen'ally most