“It is, Your Honor,” Falcon said.
“Why did you do that?”
“I thought it might stop any further gunplay.”
The judge stroked his white beard, then nodded. “You may be right,” he said. “Do you have anything further to add, Mr. Rawles?”
“Only that there ain’t no doubt in my mind but what my friend Roy was kilt for no reason at all.”
“Thank you, Mr. Rawles,” Judge Keller said.
Rawles was the only witness who testified on behalf of Roy Jameson. Every other witness testified as to how Roy Jameson had baited Duff MacCallister and had, in fact, drawn first.
The real clincher came, however, when Dingus Murphy testified. Murphy had been hired by Elliot Sikes, owner of the leather goods store, to clean it up after closing. He had heard the first shot. Moving to the window to see what was going on, he witnessed the entire event and gave a very cogent and believable account.
When all had testified, including Duff, Judge Keller rendered his decision.
“I find this killing to be in all ways justifiable. No charges will be filed and Mr. MacCallister is free to go.”
Chapter Nineteen
It was as disreputable a group of men as had ever stepped down from the train in MacCallister. All were rough looking, and those who were at the depot for one reason or another moved away from them. After the horses were off-loaded, Malcolm asked the others to wait for a moment while he went inside to inquire of the stationmaster where they might find Duff MacCallister.
“Duff MacCallister?” the stationmaster said. He shook his head. “Mister, this town is full of MacCallisters, but I don’t recollect any of them by the name of Duff.”
“Sure you do, Pete,” Toots said. “He was the man who used my cane to subdue Stripland when the brigand tried to steal Mrs. Rittenhouse’s purse, don’t you remember? It was written up in the paper.”
“Yes, of course, I remember that. I guess I just never heard his first name, though now that I think about it, I believe I did hear that he is a cousin to our MacCallisters.”
“He is a foreigner,” Toots said. He looked more closely at Malcolm. “You are as well, I suspect. You sound just like him.”
“Aye, we are from the same town in Scotland, Donuun in Argyllshire, it is.”
Toots smiled. “Well, now I can see why you are trying to find him. It is always good to meet a fellow countryman when one is traveling in a foreign country,” Toots said. He held up his cane. “I confess that I picked up the habit of carrying a cane when I was in London.”
“Yes, the English do that,” Malcolm said. “Now, about Duff MacCallister.”
“Your friend isn’t here,” Toots said.
“I thought you said that he was.”
“He was here, yes, but he and Falcon left a few days ago.”
“Would you be for knowing where they went?”
“No, I don’t have any—no, wait. I think it was in the newspaper article.”
“Newspaper article?”
“Yes. The one about me.”
Pete chuckled. “As I recall, Toots, your name is mentioned one time.”
“That’s all it needs,” Toots said. “One hundred years from now someone will read that article and know that I was here to make my mark.”
“Where can I get a copy of this paper?” Malcolm asked.
“I have some copies back here. They are five cents apiece.”
Malcolm took a nickel from his pocket and handed it to the stationmaster, who gave him a copy of the paper.
“This is the story,” Toots said, pointing to the article on the front page of the paper. “You’ll find my name, Toots Nelson, in the story.”
“Thank you,” Malcolm said. “I shall read it with interest.” He stepped back outside.
“Did you find out where he is?” Shaw asked.
“I think I’m about to,” Malcolm said as he began reading.
On Thursday previous, shortly after the arrival of the morning train, George Stripland, a known outlaw, attempted to ply his evil avocation upon the innocent person of Mrs. Emma Rittenhouse.
Snatching her reticule, the nefarious Mr. Stripland attempted to effect his getaway by depending upon swiftness of feet to carry him to safety. But to the detriment of Stripland, the benefit of Mrs. Rittenhouse, and the approval of the law-abiding people of MacCallister, a visitor from Scotland foiled his escape.
Duff MacCallister, a cousin to Falcon and the many other MacCallisters who reside in our fair town and valley,
