table which a few minutes before had served as an altar he shook his
head.

"He will be gone in half an hour," he said. The men standing about began
taking off their hats.

"I wish to write home," whispered Muldoon. The young mother handed her
baby to its father and seizing pencil and paper, ran forward. The
minister opened his prayer book at the service for the dying.

When that service had been read, and what had been Muldoon carried away
to be made ready for the last sleep, only the minister and the tall
Englishman were left in the bar-room.

"In the midst of life we are in death," muttered Duncan.

"True," rebuked the other "so live well the life which the Lord, thy
God, hath provided thee." Will Duncan laughed aloud.

"It is too late, Man-o'-God! There is no place in the world for a
younger son." The minister had not heard. He sprang toward the open
window, calling:

"Wait! It is written - 'Thou shalt not kill!' Bring him in, like just
and honest men, for a hearing. He may be a horse thief and a murderer
but you shall take the rope from his neck and he shall speak in his own
defense before he goes to his Maker."

So a hearing was given (although grudgingly, and with audible grumbling)
by the friends of Muldoon across the table which had so lately been his