From the Journal of Issac McNamara.....#3

The sun was an hour away when Zeke lead the sorrel horse from the Livery, behind it walking along was his mule. Zeke had found the young mule next to a burnt out wagon near Murder Rock over in Taney County, he was returning home to re cooperate from wounds he received at the Battle of Stone Mountain in Georgia. Best he could figure the owners had lost a fight with Alf Bolin's band of renegades and the little feller was standing weak legged by his dead mother. Zeke took charge and took care of him. He named him Alf, and where ever Zeke went that mule went as well. Alf Bolin had made a name for himself during the war as a murderer, he lead a band of misfits and created terror in Southwest Missouri raiding homes and killing people. He was beat to death over near Forsyth, and his head was placed on a staff outside the Christian County Court house for all to see that he was dead. Folks were that scared of him.

Zeke walked to the front of the Checkercloth were he tied the sorrel, Alf, walked up beside her and stood. Zeke entered the restaurant just as Ma was putting a plate full of hens eggs and sausage down in front of ole Mike the Jailer.

" Morning Zeke, sit yourself down and I'll fix you a plate." she said

Zeke sat down across from Mike. " Mike, good to see your still on the green side this morning."

"I am right now, but the day is young and Gerald Gideon still has his hopes up."

"Gerald is as dumb as an anvil, he should realize that should something happen to you he might go hungry for a day or two until someone remembers the prisoners."

" If that ain't the truth, ole Overstreet is so busy protecting his job, he may plum forget about them degenerates in the basement of the court house."

Ma brought out a plate full of eggs, sausage, fried taters and biscuits. She poured Zeke a cup of coffee and stepped back. She craned her neck out the window and seen Zeke's outfit at the hitching rail.

"Leaving us this morning Zeke?" she asked

"Yep, Sheriff says I need to earn my money. Say, you seen any strange men in town lately?"

"Just about everyday, now that the war is over they are coming through here in a regular basis. Most of them are bound for Texas and home."

"Seen any officers in full uniform?"

"Not so's I remember. they was a bunch traveling together yesterday afternoon, they had them a wagon and they got supplies from Cornelison's General store. paid for them with Yankee gold, surprised ole Cornelison half to death."
"They say where they was going?"
"You'd have to ask Cornelison, he might have heard, he don't ask many questions once the gold's been flashed."
Zeke finished his breakfast keeping up with the small talk of a morning restaurant as town folks came and went. He paid is money for the meal as was leaving when Mike asked him to hold up. Mike motioned for him to go outside away from the other folks eating.
"Boy, you listen to me, everybody in this town heard you was going to look for old Yokem's treasure. most of these folks would shoot their mothers for them diamonds. they also know about them Reb's gathering down near the White and James. These here folks was mostly with the south, they have them some strong feelings about Yankees and you need to watch your back. That Anderson bunch is running with Quantril now that Bloody Bill is dead. They would just as soon as kill a Deputy as look at one. Especially that young varmint Jesse James."
"I figured as much Mike, there is nothing that goes on in that courthouse than is not general news around town. Makes Mister Brown angry as a wet hen, he has to hustle to keep up on the news to report."
"Zeke, I mean it, your likely to be in a hot spot or two before this is over."
"Thanks Mike, I'll watch my top knot"
Zeke mounted the sorrel and with Alf following circled the court house and rode down to the river crossing on the James. It had been a dry year and the water was down enough that he didn't even get his boots wet as he crossed. Alf followed along with out a lead. Zeke had not gone down the trail more than a 100 yards when he seen a small piece of white fluttering from a low limb. He reached up to get it. It was a piece of white cloth with a warning written on it.
" Don't u Go, I mean it, turn around and head back, this is none of the laws concern."
Zeke had no more finished reading it when the limb above his head splintered and the sound of gunshot from a heavy rifle echoed off the river.....