Swiftly the screaming stopped.  A strange silence fell on the crowd.  They turned their heads and looked down Sacramento street.  Little Joe could stand the curiosity no longer.  He craned his neck to see.  Far down the street soldiers were standing before a building.  Everybody watched them open-mouthed.  In front of the building on a high platform two men stood as if they were making speeches.  But they did not move their arms, and their heads looked very queer ... as if they had bags over them.

Then, unexpectedly, Mrs. Sime forced him back.  She pulled the curtain on the left side of the carriage.  Little Joe heard a half-suppressed roar go up from the throng.  For an instant the carriage halted.  He was grievously disappointed not to witness the thing which held the public eye.  Then the carriage went on.

* * * * *

Later, another funeral wended its way through the streets.  It was at night and ill attended.  A handsome woman followed it with streaming eyes; a woman who lived by an evil trade, and the inmates of whose house were given over to sin.  Early that morning she had married a murderer.  Now she was a widow with a broken heart—­she whom many stigmatized as heartless.

For many years she was to visit and to weep over the grave of a little dark man who had touched her affections; who might, under happier conditions, have awakened her soul.  She was Mrs. Charles Cora, born Arabella Ryan, and widely known as “Belle,” the mistress of a bawdy house.

A few members of Casey’s fire engine company paid him final honors.  Shrived, before his execution, he was laid in holy ground, a stone erected over his grave.

* * * * *

The city returned more or less to its normal activities.  But the Vigilante Committee remained in active session.  It had avenged the deaths of Richardson and King, but it had other work to do.

About this time, Yankee Sullivan, prize-fighter, ballot-box stuffer and political plug-ugly, killed himself in Vigilante quarters, evidently mad with fear.

Ned McGowan, made of different stuff, arch plotter, thought by many to be the instigator of King’s murder, went into hiding.

[Illustration:  In front of the building on a high platform, two men stood....  A half suppressed roar went up from the throng.]

CHAPTER XLVII

HINTS OF CIVIL WAR

After the hanging a temporary reaction took place—­a let-down from the hectic, fevered agitations of preceding days.  Members of the Law and Order Party were secretly relieved by the removal of Casey and Cora.

“Now that they’ve shot their bolt, we’ll have peace,” said Hall McAllister to Broderick.  But the latter shook his head.  “They’ve only started, Mac,” he answered, “don’t deceive yourself.  These Vigilantes are business men; they’ve a business-like organization.  Citizens are still enlisting ... seven thousand now, I understand.”