THE END OF EWING’S STORY 149 
killing would prove for him a way to happiness or 
the road to a hopeless hell. I was answered, in part, 
a few weeks later, when the news of the packer’s 
suicide reached us. He had gone out on bail, fur- 
nished by a cattleman he knew, taken a room at the 
hotel, locked the door, and shot himself. 
The tragedy shocked us inexpressibly. We could 
think of nothing else for a time. Knowing more 
than the others of Ewing’s story, I felt sick over the 
affair for days. Then, the first sudden horror of the 
shooting over, we began to consider its practical re- 
sults. Ewing’s place must be filled, and at once. 
But Jackson, as soon as the question was broached, 
set Frazer’s mind at rest on this point. 
**T ’phoned to Johns at Silver,’’ he said, ‘‘as soon 
as I heard of the matter, and he told me to ride up 
and help you until you can get another man. 
There’s not much doing in the district right now 
anyway, and Randolph at Fierro can look after 
things here for a while. I wouldn’t be surprised if 
the Supervisor would let me finish out the job with 
your outfit. The fire season is over and he’s cutting 
out all unnecessary men at this time anyway.’’ 
That, as it turned out, was just what occurred; 
Jackson remained with us until we struck for Silver 
City. 
