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Show 2I2 Waller enlightened me: "Yep. When I offered him a neat copy of 'em, along with the pass--" " Pass ? " I asked. " What about it ? I thought you said--" "It's here, safe in the wallet," said Chilcott. "Needn't worry." " Them's what brought in the dimes! " snickered Waller. "The way he shelled out for it an' them plans! Yah!- when I copied it from one of Brigham's at Brigham's own desk an' made up the plans to hornswoggle him! Yah !- we caught him slkk, the dirty apostate! Thought he was so mtghty shck hisself a-reading them plans an' burning them up! Yah!" " I see. You certainly are slick, Jake," I praised. " Shoo! That ain't nothing. I've been selling him information for nigh on two years, 'cept when I was East on mission an' the Gentile cusses persecuted me. That's where you got in a good lick for the Kingdom, Dave- gitting my trial postponed, so's I had the chanct to break gaol." "Shut up and look around for some J?lace to put our dead brother decently out of sight,' ordered Chilcott. " Even if he was an apostate, haven't we saved him ? His blood has atoned for his sin. He will waken with us in the f1rst resurrection." "That's so. But I've sure got to tell Dave how we was counselled to save him either coming or going -coming into full grace in the Church, 01 going t'other way. It's fell out we saved his going an' saved him while he was a-going." The little scoundrel's cackling laugh was cut short by Chilcott. " Shut up, you striped skunk! Dave and I are glad to do our duty by the Kingdom. But we are gentlemen, and so was Sen by. The shedding of his blood has cleansed him of all sin · he's a saved Saint. Until he is buried, you'll behave'with due solemnity, or I'll skin you alive." We were not again annoyed by Waller's laughter. CHAPTER XXII PROVIDING FOR THE WIDOWS WHILE I fetched the silk hat, pierced through by my bullet, Chilcott and Waller placed the murderedman in the buckboard. They drove back to the ndge. I followed with the riding horses. On the summ1t of the ridge my companions dug a shallow grave with their bowie knives, and I collected stones. Wrapped in a blanket, the stiffened body was laid in the grave and covered over with earth and stones while Chtlcott recited the Mannon burial service with utmost solemnity. After piling up a mound of stones large enough to protect the grave from coyotes, we breakfasted on some of the concentrated foods that Waller had found packed in a light chest on the back of the buckboard. There was also a keg of water, a drink from which enabled me to choke down a few mouthfuls of food. During our return Chilcott drove with Waller in the buckboard and I rode my horse, leading the others. We reached Kaysville at noon and dined with the Bishop, or rather, we attempted to dine. Even Waller could eat little of the greasy, ill-cooked food whkh, after much entreaty from their husband, was prepared for us by the Bishop's half dozen dirty, shrewish wives. No reference was made by us to what had occurred, and the Bishop asked no que:;tions. Chilcott returned his horses to him, counselled him to sell the buckboard and travelling-outfit as Tithing House property, and proceeded to discuss crops and the harvest. |
