No one could be found who had heard a shot.
It had been deliberate murder, for behind the bar had been left a piece of paper rudely scrawled with a pencil: "All friends of Ranger Steele look for the same." Later that day I met Steele at Hoden's and was with him when he looked at the body and the written message which spoke so tersely of the enmity toward him.

We left there together, and I hoped Steele would let me stay with him from that moment.
"Russ, it's all in the dark," he said.

"I feel Wright's hand in this." I agreed.

"I remember his face at Hoden's that day you winged him.
Because Jim swore you were wrong not to kill instead of wing him.

You were wrong." "No, Russ, I never let feeling run wild with my head.