THE GRAVE 17

that night there was bright moon. shug walked up the slight incline to the cemetary.his mind was flooded with differnt ideas. he had taken blake his supper and stood there watching the man eat. if he really killed his father he could understand how neil felt. but did blake kill his father? slaughter says the crime described on the wanted poster was real blake should hang just for that. but would justice be done? would neils wife be avenged? would his father be avenged? he just didnt know what to think. behind him the lights of town flickered and the sound of the tin panny piano carried up to him as he stepped to the foot of his fathers grave. he saw a bundle of wilted flowers had been laid on the head stone. maybe carrie had been there before him. he removed his hat and stood with a bowed head. the rustle of clothes broke his thoughts. his hand went to the knife in his belt. "its just me shug."neil announced. " i didnt see you when i walked up. ime sorry." shug explained. " i was sitting in the shadow.you look like your wrestling with something. i didnt want to break into your thoughts. when i come here i find its easier to sort out my thoughts. can ihelp you in any way? you know i owe you."neil said. " no i just got to get this puzzle about blake untangled. slaughter says he will hang for the murder on the wanted poster. but will he hang for the murder of that lady there in the ground? or possibly my father here." shug pointed to the two graves. " will it matter? dead is dead. we believe he did the killing. so wether he hangs for one murder or more the results are the same. i will feel avenged." neil explained. neil put his arm around shugs shoulder and they started down the slope toeward town both buried in their own thoughts. as they reached the edge of town a horseman rushed by in the dark, almost running over them the riders coat tails flapping in the wind. shug yelled at the recklas rider but to no avail. " i catch that bird in the day light ill bring to heel." shug swore. ahead people were crowded around in the street. as the two men approached the crowd seperated to reveal slaughter nealing next to a prone figure. " blake broke jail, jimmied the cell lock with the fork from his supper.this good man tried to stop him but paid the price." slaughter stood up shakeing his head. "then its my fault he had the fork i took him his supper but i didnt pick up the empty plate. its my fault." shug was over come with regret. " ill go after him as soon as its day light."shug was over come with shame and anger. " we will put a possee together to go with you." slaughter stated. " no, ill do it. i dont want anyone else hurt because of me. i can track him better and faster if ime alone."shug turned to neil" will you be so kind as to watch out for carrie while ime gone?" neil only nodded.