              ,,*APT] ,,IX
      ,,F9D+ ,,( ,,JUBIT] ,,DUNLAP

  ,9 ! NEXT TWO OR ?REE "DS ,DUMMY HE
GOT 6BE P[];L POPUL>4 ,HE W5T ASSOCIAT+
>.D )! NEI<BORS1 & !Y MADE M* ( HM1 & 0
PR\D 6H S* A RATTL+ CURIOS;Y AM;G !M4
,!Y _H HM 6BR1KFA/1 !Y _H HM 6D9N]1 !Y
_H HM 6SUPP]2 !Y KEPT HM LOAD$ UP ) HOG
& HOM9Y1 & W>N'T "E TIR$ />+ AT HM &
WOND]+ OV] HM1 & WI%+ !Y "K$ M AB HM1 HE
0 S UNCOMMON & ROMANTIC4 ,8 SIGNS W>N'T
NO GD2 P CDN'T "U/& !M & HE PROB'LY
CDN'T HMF1 B HE D"O A SI<T ( GOO-GOO+1 &
S "EYBODY 0 SATISFI$1 & ADMIR$ 6HE> HM G
X4 ,HE TOT$ A PIECE ( SLATE >.D1 &A
P5CIL2 & P WROTE "QS ON X & HE WROTE
ANSW]S2 B "! W>N'T ANYBODY CD R1D 8
WRIT+ B ,BRACE ,DUNLAP4 ,BRACE SD HE
CDN'T R1D X V GD1 B HE CD MANAGE 6DIG \
! M1N+ MO/ (! "T4 ,HE SD ,DUMMY SD HE
2L;G$ AWAY (F SOM]S & US$ 6BE WELL (F1 B
GOT BU/$ 0SW9DL]S : HE _H TRU/$1 & 0
POOR N[1 & _HN'T ANY WAY 6MAKE A LIV+4
  ,"EYBODY PRAIS$ ,BRACE ,DUNLAP = 2+ S
GD 6T /RANG]4 ,HE LET HM H A LL LOG-CAB9
ALL 6HMF1 & _H 8 NI7]S TAKE C>E ( X1 &
FET* HM ALL ! VITTLES HE WANT$4
  ,DUMMY 0 AT \R H\SE "S1 2C OLD ,UNCLE
,SILAS 0 S A6LICT$ HMF1 ^! "DS1 T
ANYBODY ELSE T 0 A6LICT$ 0 A -=T 6HM4
,ME & ,TOM DIDN'T LET ON T WE _H "K$ HM
2F1 & HE DIDN'T LET ON T HE _H "K$ U 2F4
,! FAMILY TALK$ _! TR\#S \ 2F HM ! SAME
Z IF HE WASN'T "!1 B WE RECKON$ X WASN'T
ANY H>M = HM 6HE> :AT !Y SD4 ,G5]LY HE
DIDN'T SEEM 6NOTICE1 B "S"TS HE DID4
  ,WELL1 TWO OR ?REE "DS W5T AL;G1 &
"EYBODY GOT 6GETT+ UNEASY AB ,JUBIT]
,DUNLAP4 ,"EYBODY 0 ASK+ "EYBODY IF !Y
_H ANY IDEA :AT _H 2COME ( HM4 ,NO1 !Y
_HN'T1 !Y SD3 & !Y %OOK _! H1DS & SD "!
0 "S?+ P[];L /RANGE AB X4 ,ANO!R & ANO!R
"D W5T BY2 !N "! 0 A REPORT GOT >.D T
PRAPS HE 0 MURD]$4 ,Y BET X MADE A BIG
/IR6 ,E' BODY'S T;GUE 0 CLACK+ AWAY AF
T4 ,SATUR"D TWO OR ?REE GANGS TURN$ \ &
HUNT$ ! WOODS 6SEE IF !Y CD RUN ACR 8
REMA9D]S4 ,ME & ,TOM HELP$1 & X 0 NO# GD
"TS & EXCIT+4 ,TOM HE 0 S BRIM;L ( X HE
CDN'T EAT NOR RE/4 ,HE SD IF WE CD F9D T
CORPSE WE WD 2 CELEBRAT$1 & M TALK$ AB
?AN IF WE GOT DR[ND$4
  ,! O!RS GOT TIR$ & GIVE X UP2 B N ,TOM
,SAWY]--T W>N'T 8 /YLE4 ,SATUR"D NI<T HE
DIDN'T SLEEP ANY1 H>DLY1 TRY+ 6?9K UP A
PLAN2 & T[>DS "DLI<T 9 ! MORN+ HE /RUCK
X4 ,HE SNAK$ ME \ ( B$ & 0 ALL EXCIT$1 &
SAYS3
  8,QK1 ,HUCK1 SNAT* ON YR CLO!S--,I'VE
GOT X6 ,BLOODH.D60
  ,9 TWO M9UTES WE 0 TE>+ UP ! RIV] ROAD
9 ! D>K T[>DS ! VILLAGE4 ,OLD ,JEFF
,HOOK] _H A BLOODH.D1 & ,TOM 0 GO+
6BORR[ HM4 ,I SAYS3
  8,! TRAIL'S TOO OLD1 ,TOM--& 2SS1 X'S
RA9$1 Y "K40
  8,X DON'T MAKE ANY DI6];E1 ,HUCK4 ,IF
! BODY'S HID 9 ! WOODS ANY": >.D ! H.D W
F9D X4 ,IF HE'S BE5 MURD]$ & BURI$1 !Y
WDN'T BURY HM DEEP1 X A9'T LIKELY1 & IF
! DOG GOES OV] ! SPOT HE'LL SC5T HM1
SURE4 ,HUCK1 WE'RE GO+ 6BE CELEBRAT$1
SURE Z Y'RE BORN60
  ,HE 0 J A-BLAZ+2 & :5"E HE GOT AFIRE
HE 0 MO/ LIKELY 6GET AFIRE ALL OV]4 ,T 0
! WAY ? "T4 ,9 TWO M9UTES HE _H GOT X
ALL CIPH]$ \1 & WASN'T ONLY J GO+ 6F9D !
CORPSE--NO1 HE 0 GO+ 6GET ON ! TRACK ( T
MURD]] & HUNT ,,HM D[N1 TOO2 & N ONLY T1
B HE 0 GO+ 6/ICK 6HM TILL--
  8,WELL10 ,I SAYS1 8Y BETT] F9D !
CORPSE F/2 ,I RECKON T'S A-PL5TY = TO-
"D4 ,= ALL WE "K1 "! ,,A9'T ANY CORPSE &
NOBODY HA9'T BE5 MURD]$4 ,T CUSS CD 'A
G"O (F SOM]S & N BE5 KILL$ AT ALL40
  ,T GRAVEL$ HM1 & HE SAYS3
  8,HUCK ,F9N1 ,I N"E SEE S* A P]SON Z Y
6WANT 6SPOIL "EY?+4 ,Z L;G Z ,,Y C'T SEE
ANY?+ HOPE;L 9 A ?+1 Y WON'T LET ANYBODY
ELSE4 ,:AT GD C X D Y 6?R[ COLD WAT] ON
T CORPSE & GET UP T SELFI% !ORY T "!
A9'T BE5 ANY MURD]8 ,N"O 9 ! _W4 ,I
DON'T SEE H[ Y C ACT S4 ,I WDN'T TR1T Y
L T1 & Y "K X4 ,"H WE'VE GOT A NO# GD
OPPORTUN;Y 6MAKE A RUPUT,N1 &--0
  8,OH1 G AH1D10 ,I SAYS4 8,I'M SORRY1 &
,I TAKE X ALL BACK4 ,I DIDN'T M1N NO?+4
,FIX X ANY WAY Y WANT X4 ,,HE A9'T ANY
3SEQU;E 6ME4 ,IF HE'S KILL$1 ,I'M Z GLAD
( X Z Y >E2 & IF HE--0
  8,I N"E SD ANY?+ AB 2+ GLAD2 ,I
ONLY--0
  8,WELL1 !N1 ,I'M Z ,,SORRY Z Y >E4
,ANY WAY Y DRU!R H X1 T IS ! WAY ,I
DRU!R H X4 ,HE--0
  8,"! A9'T ANY DRU!RS ,,AB X1 ,HUCK
,F9N2 NOBODY SD ANY?+ AB DRU!RS4 ,& Z
=--0
  ,HE =GOT HE 0 TALK+1 & W5T TRAMP+
AL;G1 /UDY+4 ,HE 2GUN 6GET EXCIT$ AG1 &
PRETTY SOON HE SAYS3
  8,HUCK1 X'LL 2 ! BULLIE/ ?+ T "E
HAPP5$ IF WE F9D ! BODY AF "EYBODY ELSE
HAS QUIT LOOK+1 & !N G AH1D & HUNT UP !
MURD]]4 ,X WON'T ONLY 2 AN HONOR 6U1 B
X'LL 2 AN HONOR 6,UNCLE ,SILAS 2C X 0 U
T D"O X4 ,X'LL SET HM UP AG1 Y SEE IF X
DON'T40
  ,B ,OLD ,JEFF ,HOOK] HE ?R[$ COLD WAT]
ON ! :OLE BUSI;S :5 WE GOT 6HIS
BLACKSMI? %OP & TOLD HM :AT WE -E =4
  8,Y C TAKE ! DOG10 HE SAYS1 8B Y A9'T
A-GO+ 6F9D ANY CORPSE1 2C "! A9'T ANY
CORPSE 6F9D4 ,"EYBODY'S QUIT LOOK+1 &
!Y'RE "R4 ,SOON Z !Y -E 6?9K1 !Y "K$ "!
W>N'T NO CORPSE4 ,& ,I'LL TELL Y = :Y4
,:AT DOES A P]SON KILL ANO!R P]SON =1
,TOM ,SAWY]8--ANSW] ME T40
  8,:Y1 HE--]--0
  8,ANSW] UP6 ,Y A9'T NO FOOL4 ,:AT DOES
HE KILL HM ,,=80
  8,WELL1 "S"TS X'S = REV5GE1 &--0
  8,WAIT4 ,"O ?+ AT A "T4 ,REV5GE1 SAYS
Y2 & "R Y >E4 ,N[ :O "E _H ANY?+ AG9 T
POOR TRIFL+ NO-A3.T8 ,:O D Y RECKON WD
WANT 6KILL ,,HM8--T RA2IT60
  ,TOM 0 /UCK4 ,I RECKON HE _HN'T ?"\ (A
P]SON HAV+ 6H A ,,R1SON = KILL+ A P]SON
2F1 & N[ HE SEES X W>N'T LIKELY ANYBODY
WD H T M* (A GRUDGE AG/ A LAMB L ,JUBIT]
,DUNLAP4 ,! BLACKSMI? SAYS1 BY & BY3
  8,! REV5GE IDEA WON'T "W1 Y SEE4
,WELL1 !N1 :AT'S NEXT8 ,RO2]Y8 ,B'GO%1 T
M/ 'A BE5 X1 ,TOM6 ,YES1 SIRREE1 ,I
RECKON WE'VE /RUCK X ? "T4 ,"S FELL]
WANT$ 8 GALLUS-BUCKLES1 & S HE--0
  ,B X 0 S FUNNY HE BU/$ \ LAU<+1 & J
W5T ON LAU<+ & LAU<+ & LAU<+ TILL HE 0
'MO/ D1D1 & ,TOM LOOK$ S PUT \ & *1P T
,I "K$ HE 0 A%AM$ HE _H -E1 & HE WI%$ HE
_HN'T4 ,B OLD ,HOOK] N"E LET UP ON HM4
,HE RAK$ UP "EY?+ A P]SON "E CD WANT
6KILL ANO!R P]SON AB1 & ANY FOOL CD SEE
!Y DIDN'T ANY ( !M FIT ? CASE1 & HE J
MADE NO 5D ( FUN (! :OLE BUSI;S &(! P T
_H BE5 HUNT+ ! BODY2 & HE SD3
  8,IF !Y'D _H ANY S5SE !Y'D 'A "K$ !
LAZY CUSS SLID \ 2C HE WANT$ A LOAF+
SPELL AF ALL ? "W4 ,HE'LL -E POTT]+ BACK
9 A C\PLE ( WEEKS1 & !N H['LL Y FELL]S
FEEL8 ,B1 LAWS B.S Y1 TAKE ! DOG1 & G &
HUNT 8 REMA9D]S4 ,D1 ,TOM40
  ,!N HE BU/$ \1 & _H ANO!R ( !M =TY-
ROD LAU<S ( HISN4 ,TOM CDN'T BACK D[N AF
ALL ?1 S HE SD1 8,ALL "R1 UN*A9 HM20 &!
BLACKSMI? D"O X1 & WE />T$ HOME & LEFT T
OLD MAN LAU<+ YET4
  ,X 0 A LOVELY DOG4 ,"! A9'T ANY DOG
T'S GOT A LOVELI] 4POSI;N ?AN A
BLOODH.D1 & ? "O "K$ U & LIK$ U4 ,HE
CAP]$ & RAC$ >.D "E S FRLY1 & P[];L GLAD
6BE FREE & H A HOLI"D2 B ,TOM 0 S CUT UP
HE CDN'T TAKE ANY 9TRU/ 9 HM1 & SD HE
WI%$ HE'D /OPP$ & ?"\ A M9UTE 2F HE "E
/>T$ ON S* A FOOL ]R&4 ,HE SD OLD ,JEFF
,HOOK] WD TELL "EYBODY1 & WE'D N"E HE> !
LA/ ( X4
  ,S WE LOAF$ AL;G HOME D[N ! BACK
LANES1 FEEL+ PRETTY GLUM & N TALK+4 ,:5
WE 0 PASS+ ! F> CORN] ( \R TOBACK] FIELD
WE HE>D ! DOG SET UP A L;G H[L 9 "!1 &
WE W5T 6! PLACE & HE 0 SCRAT*+ ! GR.D )
ALL 8 MI<T1 & E N[ & !N CANT+ UP 8 H1D
SIDEWAYS & FET*+ ANO!R H[L4
  ,X 0 A L;G SQU>E1 ! %APE (A GRAVE2 !
RA9 _H MADE X S9K D[N & %[ ! %APE4 ,!
M9UTE WE -E & /OOD "! WE LOOK$ AT "O
ANO!R & N"E SD A ^W4 ,:5 ! DOG _H DUG
D[N ONLY A FEW 9*ES HE GRA2$ "S?+ &
PULL$ X UP1 & X 0 AN >M &A SLEEVE4 ,TOM
K9D ( GASP$ \1 & SAYS3
  8,-E AWAY1 ,HUCK--X'S F.D40
  ,I J FELT AW;L4 ,WE /RUCK =! ROAD &
FET*$ ! F/ M5 T -E AL;G4 ,!Y GOT A SPADE
AT ! CRIB & DUG \ ! BODY1 & Y N"E SEE S*
AN EXCITE;T4 ,Y CDN'T MAKE ANY?+ \ (!
FACE1 B Y DIDN'T NE$ TO4 ,"EYBODY SD3
  8,POOR ,JUBIT]2 X'S 8 CLO!S1 6! LA/
RAG60
  ,"S RU%$ (F 6SPR1D ! NEWS & TELL !
JU/ICE (! P1CE & H AN 9QUE/1 & ME & ,TOM
LIT \ =! H\SE4 ,TOM 0 ALL AFIRE & 'MO/ \
( BR1? :5 WE -E TE>+ 9 ": ,UNCLE ,SILAS
& ,AUNT ,S,Y & ,B5NY WAS4 ,TOM SUNG \3
  8,ME & ,HUCK'S F.D ,JUBIT] ,DUNLAP'S
CORPSE ALL 0\RVS )A BLOODH.D1 AF "EYBODY
ELSE _H QUIT HUNT+ & GIV5 X UP2 & IF X
_HN'T A BE5 = U X N"E ,,WD 'A BE5 F.D2 &
HE ,,0 MURD]$ TOO--!Y D"O X )A CLUB OR
"S?+ L T2 & ,I'M GO+ 6/>T 9 & F9D !
MURD]]1 NEXT1 & ,I BET ,I'LL D X60
  ,AUNT ,S,Y & ,B5NY SPRUNG UP PALE &
A/ONI%$1 B ,UNCLE ,SILAS FELL "R =W>D \
( 8 *AIR ON 6! FLOOR & GROANS \3
  8,OH1 MY ,GOD1 Y'VE F.D HM ,,N[60





