I asked him in as the early evening shadows began to darken the wide street outside my office, offered him a shot of local rotgut which I keep only for visitors, and invited him to set.

"What can I do for you, Joseph?"

"Wal, Ben, I don't know but what it might be the t'other way to, this time. Seems a bunch of bully boys who hang out at Lefrenier Chouvin's place out on the Booneslick Road are complaining that their pal has gone missing. 'Bout the very next day, a couple of drunks who hang out at that Tavern out at the Great Trail are saying they found some bodies, tucked into the underbrush out by Yoacham's Tavern. One of them looks to be th' explanation. But these boys tell me that Chouvin was on his way to meet you out there. Wondering if you could tell me anything about that."

I told him what I had been told about Lefrenier Chouvin and said it was my impression he was a wanton bully, not the sort I would make meetings with. I also told him about Celeste's trial, from which Chouvin had been forcibly separated from valuable but ill-gotten property by judicial decree.

"So you see, Joseph, there appears to be a modicum of revenge in these complaints. I have never made any appointment to meet Lefrenier Chouvin in my life, and based on his repute, I would not."

"'S about what I figgered. Still, these boys are raisin' a ruckus over the thing, y'see, and it's just possible they might decide to do something about it."

"Something such as what, Joseph?"

"Wal, y''never know with boys of that stamp. They get too het up they like to bust things up, or even string someone up, if ye get too many of 'em in one place. So I am sure you will be on your guard, having been duly warned that some of those boys seem to be determined to make some trouble..."

Our conversation was interrupted by a pounding at the door. A ragged-trousered barefoot boy about 12 years old was pounding on the frame for all he was worth, clearly excited at being a messenger of some importance as much as by the import of his message.

"Sheriff Conway!! Sheriff Conway!! Someone done killed Joe Crawford at the stables an' left him in the straw with a pitchfork in his back. You better come purdy quick!!"

Joseph Conway left the door open on his way out.