"Come-Outer" lay in the path with his arms outstretched, as if he had
fallen while running. He was bare-headed, and there was no sign of a
wound upon him. One coat-sleeve was badly scorched, and from a pocket in
the coat protruded the neck of a bottle. The bottle was empty, but its
odor was strong; it had contained kerosene. The evidence was clear, and
the Captain knew that what he had feared was the truth.

For a moment he stood erect and pondered as to what was best to do.
Whatever it was, it must be done quickly, but if the doctor and those
that might come with him should find the burned coat and the tell-tale
bottle, it were better for John Baxter that consciousness and life never
were his again. There might, and probably would, be suspicion; but here
was proof absolute that meant prison and disgrace for a man whom all the
community had honored and respected.

Captain Eri weighed the chances, speculated on the result, and then did
what seemed to him right. He threw the bottle as far away from the path
as he could and then stripped off the coat, and, folding it into a small
bundle, hid it in the bushes near by. Then he lifted the limp body, and
turned it so that the gray head was toward the billiard saloon instead
of from it.

Perez and Jerry were still busy with the water buckets when their friend
came panting up the knoll to the pump.

"Hello, Eri!" said the former, wiping his forehead with his arm. "It's
'bout out, ain't it? Why, what's the matter?"

"Nothin'; nothin' to speak of. Put down them buckets, and you and Jerry
come with me. I've got somethin' that I want you to do."