Folks said he was very dissipated, was a gambler, and his name had been
connected several times with some very serious affairs that had occurred
in the town.

But then he had a winning manner, sung well, and Nannie's beaux had to
all admit that he was every inch the man, and one they cared not to
anger.

From the first Billy Cody hated him, and did not pretend to hide the
fact; but it seemed the boy's intuitive reading of human nature, as much
as his jealousy on account of Nannie Vennor.

One day Billy was seated by the side of a small stream fishing.

The bank was behind him, rising some eight feet, and he had ensconced
himself upon a log that had been drifting down the stream in a freshet,
and lodged there.

Back from him, bordering the little creek ran the trail to the nearest
town, and along this rode two persons.

The quick ear of the boy heard hoof-falls, and glancing quickly over the
bank he saw three horsemen approaching, and one of these he recognized
as Hugh Hall his rival.

Just back of Billy was a grove of cottonwood trees, and here the men
halted for a short rest in the shade, and all they said distinctly
reached the boy's ears.