10 Short Novels Magazine — page 73: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

> my Vpret, a ' \ Ruff retreated meekly. The giant swung lightly onto the buck- skin, settled in the rig. He rammed his gun into the holster, swept off his bat- tered gray John B. and smacked the brone’s ears smartly. Down went the buckskin’s head. Sky- ward sailed the animal for more than half his own height. He hit the ground with a_ stiff-legged, shocking crash. Titanic Harrison lost his hat. The buckskin took off again. Twice he sunned his sides. On the next buck both saddle and rider left the animal and piled in a tangle a dozen feet away. Running to the stunned giant, Ruff drew back his fist and punched the fellow in the jaw. He seized the man’s gun and his own Frontier .45. : Hunkering down, he slapped the giant’s face, first with his left hand, then with the right. He slid fingers inside his shirt and brought out a heavy-bladed knife. Seizing the end of the latigo strap still attached to the cinch, he shoved it under the giant’s nose. The latigo had been practically severed by a knife slash at the spot where it had broken. “Cut it while I was roughhousin’ the bronc!” he said. “You—you tricked me!” gulped the giant. “Fixed it so the saddle come off!” UFF threw both guns and the knife several yards away. He hitched up his pants, tightened his belt. spat on each in turn. “My Christian friend, I’m gonna do worse than trick you!” he growled. “I’m _gonna teach you the error of grabbin’ broncs off pilgrims you don’t know. Then I’m gonna get to the bottom of this mys- terious Devil’s Ear business. I’ve always wanted to whip a gent your size. And now—” “And now—” crackled a new voice. “And now—you’ll put your hands up and stand still!” Ruff spun. His eyes popped. Sagging jaw pulled his big mouth to a gaping circle. The giant got up, swung a fist. Ruff made a belated effort to duck, failed. The blow flattened him. The giant straddled him, lifting a monster fist for another swing. ase need of that, Titanic,” said the girl. She advanced from beside the sage clump which had sheltered her furtive approach. She carried a cocked Win- - chester. Mystery Range. we ot Her sunburned brown hair would come about to his shoulder, Ruff decided. That made her a rather small girl. She was twenty or so. Her mouth was full and glowing, her eyes large and brown. She was a beauty, and she was both uneasy and angry. “What’re you doin’ here, Miss Dawn?” muttered the big man. “You’re takin’ an awful chance.” “T wanted to make sure you got away safely.” She eyed Ruff frostily. “Is this runt one of the Boxed-Y outfit?” The giant stroked his jaw gingerly. ‘He may be pint size, but he’s all man when you get hold of him. Sure, he’s one of ’em!” _— Ruff began, “I ain’t—” “Shut up!” snapped the girl. “You’re going to catch that buckskin and not argue about it!” Ruff eyed the Winchester barrel. He wet his lips. “All right,” he grumbled. “Get going!” ordered the girl. “We'll follow you. We’ve got to stay under cover, but we'll keep you in sight. Try to pull one. of your tricks, and you’ll find that out!” Ruff hesitated briefly, then strode after the buckskin. Dragging reins had stopped the horse a hundred yards distant. The animal saw him coming, began to sidle away. Homely face disgusted, Ruff quickened his pace. The horse backed through a He made knotty fists of his hands and - cluster of scrawny pifions, negotiated a gully. Ruff looked back, saw no sign of the girl and the giant, and fronted his eyes. He was barely holding his own with the fleeing buckskin. The brone was wily at handling the dragging reins. “Dang that educated critter!” Ruff growled. The buckskin stepped on the reins, nearly somersaulted. Ruff sprinted, see- ing his chance to catch the horse. The chase had covered fully half a mile. 3 Lunging, he captured the reins. A glance back disclosed no trace of his two captors. He debated forking the buckskin bareback and trying to make a getaway, wrinkling his forehead as he considered various angles of the thing. “Guess I’ll string along with ’em an’ see what happens,” he decided. “Dang me! It’ll be worth it to get another look at that gal!” He started back, leading the bronc. The girl and the giant still had not ap- peared. Suddenly four men swelled up out of i ana around him. They pointed guns at him. (Eo) o)(00)|‘< a | ee f I €O