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A look of grave concern crossed Roy's face as he looked back at his father's empty chair The colt-45 pistols and holster were plainly not hanging over the back of the chair in their usual fashion Roy twisted his neck and looked at the fireplace again, then back at the chair Setting his plate down, Roy walked over to the fireplace and grabbed the Winchester still resting on the steel pins Roy examined the weapon carefully He then ratcheted the handle An unspent round discharged fro cha without his Winchester

Thaddeus was a skilled hunter and could use a six-shooter, rifle, or knife to kill wild game, and Roy knew this But it was quite unusual for his father to leave the Winchester at houn above the fireplace He ran outside to the barn, and sure enough; his father's horse and saddle wereRoy scanned the desert floor below

As the sun dropped over the horizon, daylight was disappearing fast Roy scra the top in a matter of minutes All across the desert floor, Roy could see no ca to appear, and the fullabove the eastern hills

Where are you Pop? Where did you go? Roy thought Off in the distance, coyotes howled, and another distant pack cried out in response

Slowly turning, Roy scanned everything around the top of the low of light bending around the edge of the sloping ridge

"That would be Stanley's home," Roy said to himself

Roy knew his father was a very capable person, so he tried to dis the horizon several ti a long while, Roy was grateful the bright h visibility so he could walk down the mountain

For the next several days, Roy completed his usual chores but took several opportunities to scurry up thearea Each successive trip increased his worry Finally, on day three, Roy could stand it no more He saddled his horse and set off toward the Riddle farm Stanley mounted his horse while Mr and Mrs Riddle followed behind the two boys in their buckboard wagon as they headed into town When the four arrived at thefroon It was Sheriff Dawson and one of his deputies Roy sed a hard lump when he saw the pine box loaded in the rear of the sheriff's wagon