Believing him engaged to you, they have him now where he must either pay money for silence or be exposed.
Just how it was worked, I do not know.

The shooting last night was done to convince him they were serious.

The fact that Gaskins later denied knowing who his assailants were--even endeavored to accuse me--is abundant proof of their success." He hesitated, wondering at her silence.

"What puzzles me most is why you were present." "Present?
Where ?" "At this quarrel with Gaskins last evening.

As I ran by toward the scene of the shooting I passed you hiding at the angle or the barrack wall.