Chapter 3
SUSPICIONSAS THE stage swirled through the dusty street of Hendersville an
hour later and drew up before The Donovan House the loiterers about
the hotel and the saloons gathered about it for the news and the
gossip from the outer world. Gum Smith, sheriff, was among
them.
"Stuck up again, Gum, at the gap," the driver called to him.
"They bored Mack."
Mary Donovan and the little old gentleman were assisting the
messenger from the stage, though he protested that he was all right
and required no assistance. As the woman's eyes alighted upon the
sheriff, she turned upon him, her arms akimbo.
"Sure, yese a fine spicimin uv a sheriff, Gum Smith, that ye
are-not!" she yelled in a voice that could be heard the length of
the single street. "Three holdups in the two months ri
