they do. Ben was a typesetter, but he was also a killer of men. He had spent the Great Rebellion as a sharpshooter, picking off Confederate soldiers with such efficiency that he earned two battlefield promotions and became one of General Sherman's favorite francotiradores. Of course, I only learned these details about him long after the events at Battles Gap.

The next morning, Ben and I carried the weapons out to the barn and put them near the front door. We left them unloaded and put the men's cartridge belts and holsters into a couple of large grain sacks, which we tied to the saddles of our horses. To avoid any temptation, we told the men we would hang on to their ammunition.

Ben and I decided that enough time had elapsed that we probably could return to Dodge City.

"...

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