I had just come from sending telegrams to Marshal Blasco and Dave Cook about the demise of Mike Queens.  I mentioned that a full report would be sent later.  Stanley Offut was awful skittish, I think the ordeal wore on his nerves.  He wasn’t afraid of me, but our relationship wasn’t what it was before.  I did my best to soothe him.
    Solly Vendor was standing outside his store smoking one of his own stogies when I walked by.  Solly was always friendly to me, not that I’d say we had regular fellowship, but there was no animosity.  He blew out a big puff of smoke.  “What’s wrong with Stanley?” he asked good naturedly.  “He acts like a rat in a room of cats.  He’s tickier than that machine he runs.”
    All I could do was give him a weak smile.  “I’ll just say that he’s gone through quite an ordeal.”
    He nodded his head understanding that I couldn’t give out any more information until the Judge had the case clear, but he prodded just a mite.  “I heard it had something to do with the killing of Queens,” he paused taking a deep puff.  “When will they be appointing a new marshal?”
    “Solly, of that I have no idea.  They might have to wait until after the inquest.”
    Now he exhaled, then sighed, “Why don’t they give the job back to you?  You have your ways, but you’re a fair man.  Folks feel safe around you,” he paused to look up the street.  “Maybe I’ll go have a talk with Newsome,” he paused to take another puff.  “By the way, how is Foster?”
    That was Solly, he was truly interested in the town and the welfare of its citizens.  Not a regular church-goer, mind you, but a solid citizen.
    He gave me pause for thought, I should make it a weekly habit to visit Wilson.  He and I did not always see eye-to-eye, but we were friends.  Darnelle was keeping the store open and it was doing right well with the help of Mrs. Blackstone.  I waved at Solly and continued on up the street toward the jail.  That was another thing, what do to with Mrs. Blackstone’s request.  Right now I had laid it in the preacher’s lap.  That’s probably where it should remain for the time being at least.
    I noticed Lucas cleaning up along main street, but didn’t see Fernando.  Perhaps he was working in another area.  I stopped to look around for a few moments then continued to trod to the office.  There was really nothing I needed there but I promised Charlie that I would make my presence known through the town in his absence.  He went up to Silverton to check on Mateo.
    Silverton, that was a rough town.  It began to boom in 1874 and was still going strong.  With the booming mining industry, the evil and vice was booming as well.  With the growth of the mines, many miners brought their families with them.  Most worked in the larger mines such as the Silver Lake, the Iowa, the Royal Tiger, and the Sunnyside, along with some smaller mines.  Oh, there were still the few sourdougher, but their days were coming to an end.  Every time I went there, more buildings were going up, but most of the riff-raff built close to Blair Street or close by.  In that area of town they boasted of nearly forty saloons or gambling dens and dance halls that never closed.  However, there were other businesses being built.  They had two banks along with Wells Fargo, several hotels, and a church.  A racetrack was proposed with a jockey club, a library was built.  Yep, Silverton was booming–I wondered for how long.
    I walked through the town, stopped in to say hello to Mateo’s wife, Luciana and his two sons.  Then started back toward the diner where Judge Klaser was to have supper with Molly and me.  I had often invited the Judge since he was a widower, but he was afraid that people would perceive a conflict of friendship with the marshal and the judging of the law behind the bench.
    Walking in, I nodded at Marta, then went over to my usual table.  Molly was busy helping Marta with the customers.  I needed to talk with her about getting some help during the rush hours.  When it was extremely busy, Edith, Doc’s wife would give a hand, but it seemed that they could afford a regular person.  Emelda, along with Molly, did most of the cooking; it was time for my wife to settle just a little.
    I was sipping my coffee and was pondering how the good Lord had blessed me when the Judge entered.  He nodded at several on his way to my table.  When he was seated I poured him a cup of coffee and Molly came to get his order.  The Judge requested a platter of Emelda’s enchiladas, and he asked if Molly had any baking soda.  He said he wanted it handy if he was going to get heartburn.
    We were chatting, the Judge greatly enjoying his enchiladas while Molly and I had elk stew.  She had already told me that she was saving some pie for us.  I was just lifting my spoon to my mouth when Lucas walked in, his shoulders bent and head drooped low.
    He looked up at me, with a blackened eye and cut lip.  “Senor Marshal, I ….”

Stepping into in the door of the courtroom I faced the black-eyed bore of a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson.  I knew that Queens carried a fancy gun of .38 caliber but it’s different viewing it when the action end is pointing at you.  Queens was sitting behind the Judge’s bench.  My attention then went to the prosecutor’s desk where Stanley Offut was on top of it on his hands and knees; Judge Klaser was standing on top of him with a rope around his neck.
    This was not a good situation.  Offut was already wobbling, and the Judge was a rather well-rounded man; I didn’t know how much longer before Offut collapsed.
    “Queens, it doesn’t have to be this way,” I pleaded.  
    A laugh came from him; a laugh I had heard many times before.  It was the laughter from Hades itself, the mocking laugh of the Pale Rider.  “My party, my way, and I welcome you friend, Miles.”
    “First of all, I ain’t your friend!  Second, you won’t get out of this building alive!” I exclaimed moving so that Offut and the Judge were not blocking my view of Queens.
    He was waving his gun around, when he said, “I get two of you this way,” he paused, then continued, “Offut just got in the way, plus I heard he was backing you.”  His face turned angry, “I’m not giving up this badge.  This is going to be my town.  As soon as I get rid of you and the Judge, I’ll take care of that Sheriff.”
    My mind was whirling, and I was silently praying that the Lord would show me a way.  I tried not to show my nervousness, but it was hard not to.  I wanted to try for my gun and it seemed that Queens was taunting me into trying.
    In a shaky voice Offut cried out, “Miles, do something!  I can’t hold out much longer.”
    Not a sound had come from the Judge.  The rope was tight around his neck and was up around the rafter and tied to the door of the Judge’s chamber.  If I didn’t do something quick he might strangle before Offut collapsed and he was hung.  I moved another step to my right and turned my body slightly.
    Queens was smiling and humming some tune I didn’t recognize.  “Tell me the name of that song and we’ll sing it at your burial,” I remarked.
    His face went stone sober, no expression whatsoever.  He stood then sneered.  “All right, Mr. High-and-Mighty, I’ll give you a chance!”
    He holstered his gun, and I didn’t hesitate.  I drew my gun and shot.  I knew that he had pulled his and that I was falling.
    My eyes opened and I was laying on the other desk in the courtroom.  Doc Jones was bandaging up my head.  I tried to move my hand and felt that it was gripped tight; I looked to see who was holding it and found Molly standing there a grim look on her face that now turned to a smile.
    I tried to shake my head but Doc grabbed me by the chin, “Stay still!” he ordered.  I planned on doing just that for even that little movement make my head hurt.
    “The Judge?” I asked feebly.
    A voice answered from not too far away.  “I’m fine, so is Stanley.”
    “Whew, that was close,” came the words from Charlie Gold.  “As soon as I heard the shots, I came running and broke through the window,” he paused.  “I saw Queens lying on the floor, blood pouring from him.  The shot must have scared Stanley for he collapsed, and I saw the Judge hanging.  When I saw the rope tied to the door, I opened it and it gave enough slack for the Judge to fall on Stanley.  Miles, it was close.”
    “Help me sit him up,” commanded Doc Jones.  “Faint?  Dizzy?” he prodded.  “Well, say something!”
    “Doc, give me a chance,” I said then looked toward where Queens had been standing.  Parker was already there with some men to remove Queens’ body.  “What happened to him?”
    Paul Parker, the undertaker, came by me and placed his hand on my shoulder.  “Your bullet caught him right in the jugular notch above the breastbone.  He didn’t last long.”
    “Hmpf, long enough to almost kill you,” muttered Doc.  “His bullet plowed a nice groove alongside your head.  A fraction of an inch and your brains would have been splattered.  All I can say is that you won’t be wearing a hat for a spell.”
    “Doc,” I replied, “a fraction of an inch the other way and he would have missed altogether.”
    “Hmpf…”

It was about time for Queens’ trial.  Charlie had left to find him, and I thought it best to remain away from the scene and show up in the courtroom when it was time for me to testify.  I had a little over a half hour to wait before he came on the docket.  After the trial, Sheriff Gold, Charlie, was heading to Silverton to check on Mateo.  Nothing special, just routine.
    I had just taken a sip of coffee when through the doors of the diner came Mrs. Blackstone.  “You lied to me!” she bellowed, then looked around at the customers gawking at her.
    “Sit down, I’ll get you a cup of coffee,” I said pulling out a chair for her.  
    “I don’t want to sit, I want to know why you lied!” she exclaimed but had calmed her voice some.
    She did take a seat, so I poured her some coffee.  “Missus Blackstone, I have never lied to you.  Would you care to explain?”
    Her fingers were fiddling with the cup, her eyes upon it then she looked up at me.  “You said you didn’t know where my husband was.”
    Well, at the time I didn’t know that Frank Black of Silverton, owner of the Empty Diggin’s Saloon and drunk was her husband.  Since then I had said nothing of him to her.  She had taken a job at Foster’s Mercantile working with Darnelle.
    “I didn’t lie to you.  I recently found out that Frank Black may be your husband.  By the way, how did you come upon this information?”
    “Marshal Queens told me,” she paused, then stared at me, “He also told me how you were trying to get his job.”
    That gave me pause to ponder, was Queens becoming sweet on Mrs. Blackstone, or using her?  I didn’t want to push the job over on Rev. Chapman, but I did anyway.  “Listen, I have to be in court in a few minutes.  I want to take you to talk with the Preacher, he can better explain than I.”
    She didn’t say anything and I was able to motion to Molly with my head to come over.  As Molly was walking to the table, Charlie burst through the door.  The anger in his eyes were plain to see.  Marta saw it also and came quickly to the table putting her hand on his shoulder.
    “Miles, Queens is at the courthouse,” he said clenching his fists.  “He is holding Offut and Judge Klaser waiting for you!” he exclaimed, and I could see he was very frustrated.  “I tried to talk with him, but he said if I poked my head in the courtroom again he’d shoot the Judge…  He wants to see only you.”
    I looked at Molly with a grimace on my face.  “Take care of Mrs. Blackstone until I get back will you?”  I got up and picked up the Greener.
    “He said to leave the shotgun,” Charlie informed me.
    As Charlie and I left the diner I could see the concern in the eyes of Marta and Molly.  I winked at Molly, and Charlie gave a nod of his head to his wife.  We didn’t talk as we began to march the two blocks up to the courthouse.  “Lord, You’re in charge of this, I’ll leave it in your hands,” I prayed quietly.
    “Huh?” Charlie muttered.  “Did you say something?”
    I turned my head in his direction as we continued on our way.  “Just a little prayer.  I don’t know what’s up there, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know that the Lord does so I just asked Him for some help.”
    Arriving at the courthouse, we walked up the few steps that led into the entrance.  There were offices on both sides, clerks and lawyers, with the courtroom in the back.  All was empty and our footsteps echoed as we walked to the door.  I pounded on it rather hard.  “Queens!  It’s Miles Forrest!”
    I heard steps on the wood floor and a voice muttering something.  Then Queens called out, “Is the Sheriff with you?”
    “He’s here!”
    “Tell him to go outside and across the street.  I want to see him through the window so I know where he is,” hollered Queens.
    “Listen, Queens, it doesn’t have to be like this,” I began.
    “Shut up!  Tell him!
    I turned to Charlie, “He wants you outside and across the street where he can see you.”
    After Charlie had cleared the entrance I opened the door and yelled, “Queens, I’m comin’ in.”
    Entering the room I wasn’t ready to see what was before me.  Queens had his gun pointed in my direction and…

It took two days before Offut could post bail for Queens.  He hadn’t officially been charged with anything, Charlie wrote up the charges and I added an addendum.  After that Offut was able to get Queens out of jail.  But, he was still town marshal.  
    I stood on the boardwalk in front of the diner watching Charlie walk up to the jail to release the prisoner.  I was glad it wasn’t me.  Stanley Offut was tagging along behind him, I guess he didn’t figure Charlie would do his duty.  I could see Offut standing in the doorway, and when Queens was released he came busting out of that doorway knocking poor old Stanley flat.  Queens looked around quick then headed up toward Kingston’s saloon.
    Charlie reached down to help Offut up, and I walked inside the diner to get some coffee.  I knew that Charlie would head down this way.  Only I didn’t expect Offut to be with him.
    “Sit yourself down, Stanley,” I said motioning to a chair.  “Want some coffee?”
    He scratched his head, then wiped his hand down in front of his face muttering something I couldn’t hear.  “Sit down!” I said almost ordering him.
    Now sitting in the chair opposite me, he lifted his eyes to meet mine.  Charlie placed a full cup in front of him, but before he took a sip he apologized.  “Miles,” he said then dropped his head seemingly in embarrassment, “I realize now that Queens is a hot-head, but he still is the marshal and it didn’t seem fitting that the marshal should be locked up in his own jail.”
    “Easy, Stanley.  I’m not angry at you.  Just glad you’re starting to come to your senses,” I paused to take a sip of the hot coffee.  “Do you think Parker and Newsome will remove his badge?”
    Offut looked at his coffee, I nodded to Charlie, “Get him some sugar.”  That brought a slight smile from Offut.
    “I don’t know?” he answered.  “Paul might join me, but John, well, you know John.”  He picked up a spoon to add sugar to the coffee then stirred it rattling the spoon on the porcelain cup.  “Tell you the truth, Miles, I’m a bit scared.”
    “When’s his trial date?” I inquired of Charlie.
    “Not sure yet, the docket hasn’t been set, but I’m sure it will be the first of next week.  Since the Judge was out of town there are cases in front of him,” Charlie paused pulling at his chin.  “Seeing that Queens is the town marshal, he might move it to the front of the list.”
    I looked over at Offut.  It was plain to see that he was afraid.  “Will you help me, Miles?  I know I don’t have the right to ask, but…”
    “Stanley, the affair is out of my jurisdiction.  I have nothing to do with it except as a witness,” I replied then finished off the now warm coffee.  Offut’s face became more downcast.  “However, Stanley, as a friend I’ll stand by you.  I’ll do what I can.”
    That seemed to help him some and he reached out his hand across the table.  After we shook hands he stood up to leave.  Taking a couple of steps he stopped, reached in his vest pocket and handed a telegram to Charlie.  “Almost forgot, Sheriff.”  Then he proceeded to leave to go back to his office.
    Charlie opened the telegram and quickly read it.  “It’s from Mateo,” he informed me.  “All is ok…STOP…Marshal Dewey and I don’t often agree. Mateo”
    “Hmpf, that don’t surprise me a bit,” I said, then got up to pour a fresh cup.
    “Think I should go up there?” he asked.
    Shaking my head, I responded, “Let Mateo handle it unless he requests you.  I wouldn’t go right now anyway with Queens on the loose.  No tellin’ what he might do.  And speakin’ of that, walk wary.”
    “Walk wary of what?” came the voice.  The Parson had come in and neither Charlie nor I had noticed him.  
    “Of being surprised, just like you did to us now.  Sit down, Preacher, want some coffee?”  He nodded so Charlie got up to get him a cup.  “Sure appreciate you allowin’ us to use that shack next to the church for a jail.  Those boys givin’ you any trouble?”
    He smiled, “No, they’re tuckered out by the time they come in.  Betty is spoiling them some for she always has some cookies or the like for them.”
    “How’s their attitude?” I asked watching him swallow the hot coffee.
    “Well…”