He vows Ned
shot Ward. We can't allow no lynching, Jodie! What's worse, Wes
Bailey's gone to town to get the sheriff to come arrest you!"
"GREAT JEHOSHAPHAT AND GULLY DIRT!"
"Wes thinks you killed Ward!"
"Where'd you see Wes and Old Man Hawk?"
"Hawk phoned just a minute ago. Said he had proof on Ned."
"Proof? What sorta proof?"
"He was so excited he didn't say. And, dolt that I am, I
didn't have gumption enough to ask him. Anyhow, him and Hal Goode
and three or four more want me and you to go with them to get
Ned. They'll be here any time now."
"We'll stop them! I figure myself that Ned might've done it,
but we don't know it for a fact! And we can't let him get killed
just 'cause of some notion Old Man Hawk's got!"
"No! Hawk's in his second childhood! Besides, I don't believe
it was Ned."
"How come Wes Bailey says I had anything to do with the killing?"
"Jodie, all I know is that he took off for town before
daylight! Lida Belle told my wife he went to get the sheriff to
arrest you! Why, I can't imagine.
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