He finished his breakfast, paid Sophie, and told her he was hoping to get back for supper. She realized she had been a little less than gracious when he came in, so she offered some cheerful conversation to send him off. “Good, I’ll look forward to it.”

* * *

He went to the sheriff’s office next, only to find the door locked and a sign hanging on the doorknob that said the sheriff would be back in an hour. Since he didn’t know when Porter had hung the sign there, he decided not to wait and headed for the Last Chance Saloon instead. As a precaution, he stood just inside the doorway and scanned the room before entering. Dewey Smith, the bartender, sang out as soon as he stepped inside. “Hawk! When did you get in town?”

“’Bout an hour ago,” Hawk replied. “Thought I’d stop in to see if you folks were still in business.”

“We’re in business, all right,” a voice from the storeroom door called out, “and gettin’ busier every month.” Hawk turned to see Bertie Brown coming to meet him, her face one big smile. She walked up to him and extended her hand. “I was wonderin’ when you were gonna ride up this way again.”

“Howdy, Bertie.” Hawk took her hand and they shook, as was Bertie’s style. “I figured you’d be managin’ this saloon by the time I got back here.”

“I’ll say she is,” Dewey said. “It’s got to where Sam don’t hardly ever come in but once in a while to count the money.”

“We treat the customer right,” Bertie boasted. “Makes ’em wanna come back.” Always thinking of business, she asked, “You ridin’ scout for a bunch of soldiers? We’re real partial to our brave boys in uniform.”

“No,” Hawk said. “Hate to disappoint you, but I’m by myself this time.” Dewey and Bertie both waited to hear what brought him to town, but that was all the explanation he offered until Bertie pressed him for more. “Well,” Hawk told them, “I’m tryin’ to catch up with a couple of jaspers that headed this way. Fellow name of Booth, I don’t know the other one’s name. You ain’t seen anybody like that, have you?”

“Not that I know of,” Bertie said. “Can’t say that I haven’t, though. I don’t ask every saddle tramp that comes in here what his name is. What did these fellers do to get you on their tail?”

Hawk told them what Booth and his gang of murderers had done and how it now happened that he alone was still on their trail. “My stars in heaven,” Bertie exclaimed. “We heard about them church folk that got killed. You sayin’ the bastards that done that are here in town?”