Micah had to go to Burtonsville to testify at a trial.  He said he shouldn't be gone more then a day. He asked me to cover for him while he was gone.  I was in his office when I heard a shot.  I ran out of the Marshal's office to find Pretty Man Longden lying dead in the street. Pretty Man Longden was a notorious gunfighter.  I was surprised.....no shocked to hear Clarence Bibs had killed him.  Clarence wasn't a gunfighter.....he was a mop boy.....he did odd cleaning jobs around town.  He had been in Millie store moping up when he threw the dirty water out into the street hitting Pretty Man Longden with it.  This had angered Longden and called Clarence out.  When Clarence was backing away, he stumbled backwards on the porch of the store and fell.  His gun had gone off.  Clarence didn't usually carry a gun.  He would clean guns for twenty-five cents and then he would wear them until the owner would claim them.

The town agitators, Wicks and Reade decide they were going to have some fun with Clarence.  They told Clarence that when George Tanner hears about this he would be lookin' for him.  George Tanner was Longden's partner.  Wicks and Reade got their heads together.  "It's too bad Clarence doesn't wear a gun.....we'd have ourselves a show today." said Wicks.  "With the Marshal out of town maybe we can get ourselves a show," said Reade.  "I seen the whole thing Mr. McCain," said Reade.  "Clarence just beat him to the trigger pull."  "About the fastest holster snapshot I've ever seen."  Clarence disagreed.  "It seems to me Clarence has been doin' some practice on the side with those guns he's been cleaning, hey Clarence?" said Reade.  Clarence tried to talk but Reade wouldn't let him get a word in.  Reade was up to something.  I asked him what he was trying to pull. He wanted to see Clarence get his credit due.  He told Wicks to hand him Longden's gun.  Reade told Clarence gunfight winners had certain rights.  He wanted to know if Clarence had a right to Longden's gun or not.  I never heard him open his mouth before except to bum a drink or to use somebody's misfortune.  I told him to keep out of this.  Wicks put the gun in Clarence's holster.  They knew exactly what they were doing.  I told Clarence he didn't know anything about wearing a gun and that he should take it off.  Clarence didn't want to take it off.  He felt he knew enough about wearing a gun.....being that he cleans them and practices a fast draw.  Clarence looked so proud I didn't have the heart to take it from him.  They took Clarence and headed for the saloon.  Millie I was concerned.  "What are those two loafers up to Lucas?" Asked Millie.  "Well.....I'm trying to decide whether they're leading Clarence along for the drinks he can buy them or if they're settin' him up for George Tanner."  I felt that Tanner wouldn't cause any trouble when he found out it was an accident.

They had just put Longden's body in the wagon and was driving off when Mark rode into town.  I asked him how school was today.  He told me it was the same as usually.....waitin' to get out.  That boy.  He asked if something had happened in town.  I told him there was an accidental shooting, a man named Longden.  He knew right a ways who he was and who his partner was.  I told him Micah sent word he would be late and he would be bunk mates with Bobby Hamilton.  He liked that idea.  Bobby was good in arithmetic.  I told him he was to do his homework alone.....in Micah's office. "Now Pa.....who said Bobby was gonna help me with my homework?  Mark asked. "You did son."  I was your age myself," I said.  "You'd never know it," said Mark. 

Tanner rode into town.  He came straight to Micah's office.  He told me who he was and told me he heard about the shooing here today and asked if it was pretty well straightened out.  I told him that the shooting was totally accidental.  That was good enough for him.  He told me if the law was satisfied he was satisfied.  I told him what had happened.  That sure took a load off of my mind.  He asked if there was there was such a thing as a cold beer in North Fork.  I told him the saloon was across the street and I'd like to buy him a beer.  First I told him a little about Clarence.  I told him that right now he was enjoying the lime light.  He said that didn't bother him one bit.  All he was interested in was a cold beer.

Wicks and Reade sure did a number on Clarence.  When Tanner and I went to have our drink they urged Clarence to shoot it out with Tanner.  Clarence walked up to Tanner.  He tried to pick a fight but Tanner wouldn't bite.  He told Clarence that men like Longden were destined for a short life.  If it hadn't been Clarence it would have been someone else.  "Mr. Tanner.....there ain't enough room in this town for the both of us," said Clarence. Clarence wanted him out of town right now.  Tanner drank his beer and then walked out of the saloon.  "Clarence.....count your blessing!" I said.  I left too. 

Wicks and Reade started on Clarence again.  They told him that Tanner insulted him.  That he was out there talkin' to me after he told him to get out of town.  Tanner mounted up and started to ride out.  "Tanner!" Clarence yelled.  "If my friend would have been gunned down.....I wouldn't turn tail and run!"  Tanner turned around and slowly rode up to Clarence.  "Mr. Bibs.....a word of advice....."  "Sell that gun for what it will bring and go back to your mop."  "You'll lead a far happier life.....and a fuller one."  Tanner then turned and started to ride away.  Clarence started to draw.  I stopped him.  He wanted to know what I had told Tanner.  I told him the truth!  "Who asked you to interfere?" Asked Clarence.  "Well.....if I hadn't.....you would be facing Tanner's gun."  "Now wake up Clarence."  "He could have emptied his gun into you before you cleared your holster."  "I think it's time you came down to earth."  "Time to stop wearing that gun," I said.  He didn't want to be a mop boy again.  He didn't want to go back to people laughing at him.  He was enjoying the attention.  There was no talking to him.  I walked away.  "Mr. McCain.....I'm drawing on you!"   He didn't leave me any choice.  He went to draw and I shot at his holster several time missing his hand.  He just stood there.  He finally realized he was no gunfighter. 

Just then Wicks and Reade approached Clarence.  They we're laughing.....makin' fun.  They wanted to play draw.  Shoulder shots.....draw and nick.  "Aren't you boys takin' kind of a chance?" I asked.  They didn't want me to interfere.  I told them they sure had a lot of confidence.  More then I had when Clarence said he was gonna draw.  I never did give him a chance to get his hand in his holster.  I told them with all those years of make believe drawing Clarence had done.....I had a sneakin' feeling he was better then we gave him credit for.  I asked them if they knew for sure Langdon's shooting was an accident or trick shooting.  "Now don't forget it's a game Clarence.....no shootin' to kill," I said.  Clarence played along.  He was ready. "Watch his eyes boys.....when they narrow that's when his hands start moving," I said.  My trick worked.  They didn't know what to believe and what not to. What a relief it was when they backed off.  I should say.....ran off!  The townfolks applauded Clarence.   Clarence walked up to me.  He gave me Longden's fancy gun and told me he thought it should be sold and put towards a proper burial for Longden.  Maybe a fancy headstone like the clothes he liked to wear.  He told me how all the time when he was in that saloon, he could only think of him being a mop boy tomorrow.  That if Tanner would have killed him, he would have been somebody, even dead.  I was glad he felt different about it all now.  I invited him to come over to Micah's for a drink with me.  Coffee!

That night Mark & I were out in front of Micah's office talking.  That brief moment he met Tanner, he liked him.  We talked about how Tanner killed his first man at the age of twelve.  I told Mark Tanner was a very unhappy man. That he would trade everything.....his reputation.....his ability with a gun.....everything he has if he could change places with Clarence or for that matter.....him.  "I'd sure like to trade places with him," said Mark.  Most boys would.  He hoped he would come back to North Fork someday.  "He makes me think of buffalo.....prairie wagons.....Indians," said Mark.  "Mark.....your dreams will supply all the buffalo.....prairie wagons and Indians you'll ever need."  "How did you know I dreamed about those things?" Asked Mark.  "Son.....you keep forgettin' that I used to be your age."  "I guess that doesn't seem too long ago to you.....huh?" Asked Mark.  "Only yesterday Mark.....only yesterday."