Verified answer

It had been a long day out on the trail. The horses were tired and so were my men. Our cook Col Mustard, had dinner almost ready. The payroll sat locked and secured. Lefty would be on first watch, and then Slim until sunrise.

We’ve spent the night in this camp before. It’s Huddled up against a cliff so you really only need to watch one side. The clearing we use as a camp was once the entrance to what is now the old abandend conservatory mine. The only thing left is an old wood door leading into the conservatory.

The men played hide and seek while they waited for dinner. When Mustard yelled “COME OUT, COME OUT WHEREVER YOU ARE.” I knew it was time to eat.

One by one the men would emerge from the trees they had been playing in.

Everyone came in but Les Moore. “Les” I yelled, “come on in, dinners ready and sunrise will come early, stop foolin’ around.” But no sign of Les.

“Who saw him last? And where was he.” I demanded. Chewy stood up “I saw him hidin’ by the stream yonder” he said. “ I’ll go get him.” Chewy was a big hairy fellow about 6’5” muscular as a mule, but scared of his own shadow. To be honest he was a momma’s boy. Off he went to fetch Les.

After a few minutes Chewy came back white as a sheet looking like he just saw ghost or somethin’. “WAHHHHH!!! I WANT MY MOMMY !!” he cried. The men all started crying, it was rather pathetic really. “LET’S ALL REMAIN CALM SHALL WE,” I shouted.

“Les has been murdered”, Chewy cried. “One of you shot him with this…..” Chewy dropped a 44 he had been holding with two fingers by the barrel.

Lefty jumped off the payroll chest,”It wasn’t me I been right here a gaurdin’ this here box, WHERE WERE YOU AT THE TIME OF THE MURDER?” he said pointing to Chewy. “You were the last one to see him alive!”

Chewy started crying momma again. We knew it weren’t him he doesn’t even have a gun. The only cowboy I know that’s afraid of them.

Oh, I wondered aloud, “NOW WHAT WOULD U.S. MARSHAL MATT DILLION DO AT A TIME LIKE THIS.

All of a sudden the door leading into conservatory mine started banging and move like someone in there was trying to get out. Suddenly, THE DOOR FLEW OPEN AND IN STEPPED MATT DILLION, right into our camp.

“I saw the whole thing boys, I was making my way through the mine (turns out it’s a short cut from Dodge city) when I saw your cook shoot someone. I was startled by the shot, lost my footing and had to climb back up from half way down the shaft I slipped into, so I could catch him.” said the Marshal. “Who did he murder?”

Slim spoke right up, “Marshall there lies Les Moore shot dead with a Forty Four, no Les No more”

“IF YOU TELL ME IT WAS COL. MUSTARD IN THE CONSERVATORY, I’LL SCREAM”, I said, “besides he was cooking and the body was found way over there and why would he do it?

“No time to explain,” said the Marshall “this is a short story that has gone on way to long already.” And with that he took our cook into custody.

Les was a so so trail hand but Mustard was a great cook. I’m gonna miss Mustard!