He took the squirrel, and as soon as Mister Wes pulled the
sheet over Mister Ward's face, we all walked out to the front
porch. I held to Papa's hand.
"I reckon we may as well let Ward's dogs have this squirrel
for their breakfast," Doctor Elton said. "What do you think,
Wes?"
"Yeah, just throw it to the dogs, Doc. Ward must've shot it
right 'fore he started back to the house. I see he didn't gut
it."
Doctor Elton turned the squirrel over again to look at its
stomach. "No, he didn't."
Papa gave a shrill whistle. Two hounds asleep at the gate
pricked up their ears. He whistled again, and they came trotting
toward the porch. Doctor Elton tossed the squirrel to them. Both
dogs pounced on it and began pulling it to pieces.
Mister Wes started his loud talking again. "I don't figger
there's no need o' havin' a inquest. Do you, Jodie?"
"It's for you to say, Wes. You're the new J.P. But it looks
to me like Ward just went squirrel hunting yesterday evening and
had an accident right before he got back to the house.
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