148 THE LOG OF A TIMBER CRUISER 



"Ewing didn't seem much worried. He jest 

 looked up at the feller an* smiled an' seemed real 

 glad to see him. 



" 'Whenever you git good an' ready,' he said, 

 'shoot ahead!' 



"The feller grinned, awful sour-like, an' sezzee, 

 'You'll mebbe want t' think o' your sins,' he says, 

 'fer a little. I'll count ten.' 



"Ewing only laughed at th' feller. He shore had 

 his nerve with him. 



"The feller begin to count, an' then, jest as we 

 heard 'eight' counted, Ewing looked right past him 

 towards the door of the saloon, same as if he seen 

 somebuddy, and he shouts out, quick and sudden- 

 like, ' Millie ! ' Jest like that' Millie ! ' Th ' stran- 

 ger give a jump an' half -turned around an' there's 

 where Ewing got him! Right through th' head! 

 'Twas the prettiest shot y' ever want t' see! 



"He never looked at th' feller wonct after that. 

 Jest called in th' sheriff an' give himself up peace- 

 able. 



"What gits me is just who the feller was an' why 

 he tried to put Ewing out. An' what was Ewing 

 a-hollerin' that there gal's name fer. Hit's shore 

 funny. But nobody don't seem to know nothin' 

 much more than what I tole you." 



I had no doubt, under the circumstances, as to who 

 the dead man was, and I wondered whether the out- 

 come of his search had helped Ewing to find peace, 

 or whether his ill luck still remained, whether the 



