Noon Wine, Section Three, pp. 154-176 Summary

Mr. Thompson loads Mr. Hatch's body into the wagon and goes into town to tell the sheriff and coroner what has happened. They agree that it was self-defense, and escort Mr. Thompson back to his farm, picking up his wife along the way. Mr. Thompson convinces her to claim that she saw everything, so that he will be sure to be found innocent. Meanwhile, a large group of men goes looking for Mr. Helton, who has run off. They finally corner him, but he fights them off. When he stoops to pick up a harmonica, they beat him down, and he dies from his wounds. Ironically, he has not been harmed at all by Mr. Hatch's knife.

Mrs. Thompson lies in court and so does Mr. Thompson, at the advice of his lawyer...