I got back to the end of the counter when I came to a halt, for there in a heap on the floor was old man McBride, with his head mashed in where some one had hit him with a sledge.

There was blood all over the floor, and it was a mighty sickenin' spectacle.

I sort of looked around hoping I'd see the murderer, but he'd lit out, and then I went back to the front of the store, where I seen Colonel Harbison coming across the Square.

I told him what I'd seen and he went inside to look; while he was looking, along come Andy Gilmore and I told him, too, and he went in.

They knowed the murderer wasn't there, that I'd been in ahead of them.