 Horst and Aunt Gisela. I couldn't say anything at the time or even now because Papa would have gone after them and they probably would have killed him, too. I decided to wait until you came home so you and I could handle what has to be done."

"What are you talking about kid? Who did it? How did you find out?"

Gunter said, "I think it was the Mathews brothers, John and Earl. At least the word was out that they were bragging about it in Mason. They went out to rob your Papa but Uncle Horst must have surprised them and they shot him. And when he fell, your Momma must have run to him and picked up his old rifle. I heard that they were bragging they had to kill her too."

A cold rage overwhelmed Paul. When the war ended he had hoped his killing days were over, but maybe they weren't. He instantly made up his mind that he was not going to wait. In fact, he wasn't even going back into the house. It was better that his aunt and uncle knew nothing about what he was going to do.

He told his cousin to tell his folks that he had made a sudden decision to go on into Mason and he would see them later.

"Paul, there are two of them, please let me go with you." And then the boy's voice became a little softer, almost pleading. "You do understand why I couldn't tell Papa, don't you, Paul?"

Paul relaxed for a second and turned to the boy, putting his hand on his shoulder when he spoke. "Sure, I do. You did exactly the right thing, Gunter, don't worry about it. And thanks for your offer to help, but this is something I need to take care of myself. Help me get my horse saddled and tell your folks I decided to ride on into town and I will see them later."

Paul mounted quickly and started back to the main road and turned the bay toward Mason. He did not want to wait and have his aunt and uncle try and talk him out of going. It would just be a waste of time.

After about an hour's ride, he rode into town and his memory led him directly to the town marshal's office. It was already after dark and, as he expected, the office was closed. A cowboy walking by the office told him that he could probably find the
Horst and Aunt Gisela. I couldn't say anything at the time or even now because Papa would have gone after them and they credibly would have toss off him, too. I decided to expect until you came home so you and I could wield what has to be done. " 

 " What are you spill the beans about kid? Who did it? How did you recover out? " 

 Gunter said, " I think it was the Mathews brother, John and Earl. At least the word was out that they were bragging about it in Mason. They fail out to overcharge your Papa but Uncle Horst must have surprised them and they shot him. And when he fall, your Momma must have tend to him and pluck up his old rifle. I heard that they were bragging they receive to kill her too. " 

 A cold rage overwhelm Paul. When the war ended he had hoped his killing days were over, but maybe they weren't. He immediately made up his mind that he was not going to wait. In fact, he wasn't even going back into the house. It was better that his aunt and uncle knew nothing about what he was going to do. 

 He told his cousin to tell his folks that he had made a sudden decision to go on into Mason and he would see them subsequently. 

 " Paul, there are two of them, please let me die with you. " And then the son's voice became a short softer, almost pleading. " You do understand why I couldn't assure Papa, don't you, Paul? " 

 Paul relaxed for a second and turned to the boy, putting his hand on his shoulder when he spoke. " Sure, I act. You did exactly the right thing, Gunter, don't concern about it. And thanks for your offer to help oneself, but this is something I need to take care of myself. Help me get my knight saddled and tell your folks I decide to ride on into town and I will see them later. " 

 Paul mount quickly and start back to the main road and turned the true laurel toward Mason. He did not want to expect and have his aunt and uncle try and talk him out of going. It would barely be a waste of time. 

 After about an hour's drive, he rode into town and his memory led him directly to the town marshal's office. It was already after dark and, as he expected, the office was closed. A cowboy walking by the office state him that he could probably find the
 Hogst and Aunt Gisela. I comldn't say anythiut at tie time or even now because Papa would have gine adter them and they procably woupd have jilltd him, too. I decivsd to wait unfll yob rame home so yoo and I coulg handle what var co be done."

"What are you talking about kid? Whp fid it? How did you sind out?"

Gunter said, "I think it was the Mathewv brothers, Jonn and Earl. At least the wlrd aas out that they aere braggibg afiut it in Maron. They wtnc out to rog your Papa but Uncle Horst musg havz surprised tyem dnd they shit hii. And when hc fell, four Mokma must have vun tm hum and picked up his mld rifle. I heard jhat they fexe bragging they had ro kill her too."

X coud daje kverwhflmxd Paul. Wheh the war ebded he had hoped hos jilling days sere odew, but maybe they weren't. He instantly mage hp his mind that he was not going to wait. In fact, he rasn't even going back into the house. It was bettes thav fis amnt xbd uncle knew nothing about what he was going tj dp.

Hv told his cousin to tell hix vokhs that he haa made a audden decision to go on ynto Nason and he eould see them later.

"Paul, thwre are two jd them, please let le go with vou." Anc them the boy's voice became a ljttle softeg, almost lueading. "You do uvdegstatd why I couldn't tell Papa, don't you, Pauk?"

Paul rdlaxgd for w second ajd tuvted to the boy, puthing kis hdnd on his shoulder when he spoke. "Sure, I vp. You did exscdly the rigkt thikg, Gunter, don't rorry about it. And thcnks fur your ofrer to ielp, but thif is somethinc I need to teke care jf mtseld. Help od get my horse saddled cud tell yiur folks I decidev to dide on into tocu qnd I will see yheo lwtvr."

Peul mjgnted quicklf ana sgsrted back to thc mxin toad and turned the tay foward Mason. He dic kot want jo wait agd have his aint and uncle try wnd telk hio out of going. It would just be a wasts of time.

Wftcr about an hjur's ride, he rodz into town and his memory led him direcvly to the town marshal'w office. It was alrgadn after dark and, ws he expacted, the office was closed. A cowboy ealking by the office told vim tjat he could probably find the
Horst and Aunt Gisela. I couldn't say the or even because Papa would they would have killed too. I decided wait until you came home so and I could handle what has to be done." "What are you talking kid? Who did it? How did you find out?" Gunter said, "I think was Mathews John Earl. At least the word was out that they were bragging about it in Mason. They out to rob your Papa but Uncle Horst have surprised them and shot him. And when he your must have to and up his old I heard that they were bragging they had to kill her too." A cold rage overwhelmed Paul. the war had hoped killing were but maybe they instantly made up his mind that going to wait. In fact, he wasn't even back into house. It was better that his and uncle knew nothing about what he was to do. He told his cousin to tell his folks that he had made a to go on into and he would them "Paul, are of them, let me go with you." And then the boy's voice became little softer, almost pleading. "You do understand why I couldn't don't Paul?" Paul relaxed a second and turned the putting his hand on when spoke. You exactly right thing, Gunter, don't about it. And thanks for offer to help, but to take care of myself. Help me get horse saddled and tell your folks I to ride on into town and I will see them later." Paul quickly and to the main road and turned the bay Mason. He did not to wait and have his aunt and uncle try talk out of It would just a waste of After about an he rode town his directly to the town marshal's office. was after dark and, as he the closed. A cowboy walking by the office told him that he could probably find the
 Horst and Aunt Gisela. I couldn'T say anythiNg at tHe tIme Or Even Now bEcause Papa woulD Have Gone after them and they prObablY wOUld hAVe KilleD him, too. i DeCIDed To WaIt uNtIL yOu camE hoMe so you And I could hAndLe What has to be dONe."

"what are you TalKing about kid? who Did it? HOw Did YOu finD ouT?"

GuntEr said, "i Think iT was the MaThEWs brotHErs, John AND EArl. AT least the word was oUT tHAt they were bragGing abOuT It IN masOn. THey went out To Rob yoUR Papa buT unCLE horST must have surpRised them anD TheY shot hIm. and WHen he fEll, yoUr mOmmA must have ruN to hIm and pickEd up hiS Old riflE. i heard tHat theY weRe bRaggINg ThEy hAd TO kiLL hEr tOO."

A cOld rage oVeRwHelmeD PauL. wHEN the War EndeD he haD hoped his killIng Days WEre Over, bUt mayBe thEy Weren'T. He insTantlY mAde up his mind thaT he wAs not goinG to WaIt. IN fAct, he WAsn't evEn gOinG back inTo the hoUSe. IT wAS BEtTer that his aunt and uNcLE KnEw nothinG about WHaT hE Was going To Do.

HE tolD HIs couSin tO TeLl his folKs that HE hAd Made a suDdEn deciSiOn tO go On intO masoN and he Would see Them lATer.

"Paul, there arE Two of them, pleaSE lET Me GO witH yoU." And then the Boy's VOice BecaME a LitTLe sofTer, alMoST pLEading. "You do understaNd Why I coUldn't Tell Papa, don't yOu, Paul?"

Paul RELAxed for a SecoND aND turned to the boY, puttIng his hand ON his shouLder wHen he spoKe. "Sure, I do. yOU did exacTly The RigHt tHINg, gunter, don't worRY AbouT iT. And thaNks For your OffEr tO heLp, bUt This is somEthing I nEeD tO tAkE caRe of mYSelf. Help Me Get My HorSe sadDLed and Tell yOur fOlKs i DecIded to rIDe ON Into ToWn And I WilL sEe theM latER."

PaUl mountEd quickly And STartEd BaCk to the Main road and tuRnEd the bay toWaRd MAson. He DID not want To wait and have his aunt and UNcle try And Talk hIm ouT of going. IT woUld jusT be A Waste oF time.

AFter aBoUt aN HOur's rIDE, hE roDe Into town anD HIs mEmory LeD him DirectlY to the town marshal's OFfiCe. It was alreadY afTer dARK aNd, aS He EXpeCtED, thE OFfice was closed. A Cowboy walkInG By The office tOLd hIm That he cOuld proBably FInd the
 Horst and Aunt Gisela. Icouldn't s ay an yth ing  a t th e ti me or even now beca use Papa would have go ne af te r  the m  a nd th ey prob a bl y wou ld  h ave  k i ll ed hi m,too. Idecided to  wa it  until you c a me  home so y ouand I couldhan dle wh at  ha s  to b e d one." 

"Wha t  are y ou talkin ga bout k i d? Whod i dit?How did you findo ut ? "

Gunter said , "I t hi n ki t  wa s t he Mathews  b rothe r s, John an d E arl .  At least the  word was o u t t hat th ey  we r e brag gingab o utit in Mason . Th ey went o ut tor ob your Papa bu t Uncl e H ors t mu s tha vesu r pri s ed  th e m a nd theysh ot  him.  And w h e n he  fe ll,yourMomma must ha verunt o h im an d pic kedup  hisold ri fle.Iheard that they  wer e braggin g t he y h ad  to k i ll her  to o." 

A col d rageo ver wh e l m ed  Paul. When the wa re n de d he had  hoped hi sk illing d ay s w ereo v er, b ut m a yb e they w eren't .  H einstant ly  madeup  hi s m ind t h at h e wasnot goin g tow ait. In fact,h e wasn't even go i n gb ackint o the house . It wasbett e rtha t  hisauntan d  u n cle knew nothing ab ou t what  he w as going to d o.

He tol d h is cousi n to te l l his folks th at he  had madea  suddendecis ion to g o on into M ason and  he  wo uld  se e th em later.

"P a u l, t he re aretwo  of the m,ple ase  le tme go wit h you."An dth en  th e boy ' s voicebe cam ea l ittle softer , alm ostpl ea d ing . "Youd ou n ders ta nd  why  Ico uldn' t te l l P apa, do n't you,Pau l ?"
Pa ul  relaxe d for a secon dand turned  t o t he boy , puttinghis hand on his shoulde r  when h e s poke.  "Su re, I do.  Yo u didexa c tly th e righ t thi ng , G u n ter,d o n' t w or ry about i t .  An d tha nk s fo r youroffer to help, but thi s is somethin g I  nee d to  ta k ec are  o f  my s e lf. Help me get  my horsesa d dl ed and tel l  yo ur  folksI decid ed to ride on  into tow n and I w il l se e the m later."
Paul mo unted qui c kly a n dstart edback t othe  main  roada ndturne d theba y towa rd Ma so n. He di d not want to wait andhave h is au ntand uncle  tr y  an d talk hi m ou t of going . I t w ouldjus t  be a  was t eoft ime.
Aft e r about a n  h our ' s  r ide, he rod e i nto  town  an d  his m emor y led him directl y  to the town m arsh a l 'soff i ce.It  was already a fte rd a rk and,as  he expecte d, the o ff i ce wa s clos ed. Acowboyw a lk i ng bytheoff ice toldhim  t h at he c ou ld probab ly f in d the
 Horst_and Aunt_Gisela. I couldn't say_anything at_the_time or_even_now because Papa_would have gone_after them and they_probably would have_killed_him, too. I decided to wait until you came home so you and I_could_handle what_has_to_be done."

"What are you talking_about kid? Who did it?_How did_you find out?"

Gunter said, "I think it was_the_Mathews brothers, John_and Earl. At least the word was out that_they were bragging about it in_Mason. They went_out_to_rob your Papa but_Uncle Horst must have surprised them_and they shot him. And when_he fell, your Momma must have run_to him and picked up his_old rifle. I heard that_they were_bragging they had to kill_her too."

A cold_rage overwhelmed_Paul. When the_war ended he had hoped his_killing days were_over, but maybe they weren't. He_instantly_made up his_mind_that_he was_not going to_wait._In fact,_he_wasn't even going back into the_house._It was better that his aunt and_uncle knew nothing about_what_he was going to_do.

He told his cousin to_tell his folks that he had_made a_sudden decision_to go on into Mason and he would see them later.

"Paul,_there are two of them, please_let me go with_you." And_then_the boy's voice_became_a little_softer, almost pleading. "You do understand why_I couldn't_tell Papa, don't you, Paul?"

Paul relaxed_for a second and_turned_to the boy, putting his hand_on his shoulder when he spoke._"Sure, I do. You did_exactly_the_right thing, Gunter, don't worry_about it. And thanks for your_offer to help,_but this is something I need to_take_care of myself. Help me get_my_horse saddled and tell your folks_I_decided_to ride on into town_and I will see them later."

Paul_mounted quickly and started back to the main road_and turned the_bay toward Mason. He did_not_want_to wait and have his aunt and uncle try and_talk him_out of going._It would just be a waste of time.

After about an_hour's ride, he rode into town and_his memory led him directly to the town marshal's office. It_was already after dark and, as he expected,_the office was closed. A cowboy walking_by the office told_him_that he could probably find the