midnight
Weir was taking no chances . Up into his own saddle then he swung himself . No exultant curses now came from his captive 's lips . The hour was drawing near midnight when Weir and his prisoner entered the town . Most of the women and children of the crowd of Mexicans had gone to their homes , but men yet remained before the court house and in the street , discussing and arguing the exciting events of the night . In some mysterious manner knowledge that Burkhardt and not Weir was the prisoner in the jail , together with news of Judge Gordon 's suicide and Vorse 's death , had spread from mouth to mouth . Amazement and incredulity had been followed by an aroused feeling of anger , for to the Mexicans it appeared that the crushing blow dealt the leaders of the town was the arbitrary act of the man they believed a lawless gun-man .