15 Western Short Stories — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

GONE AGAINST THE BLOOD-BOUNTY HUNTERS "1 Turk Brule strode across the room and stood over Powder Mace. There was fierce triumph in his inky eyes as he looked down at the bound Texan. “So, Mace, I’ve got you at last,” Brule said purringly. “Wasn't satis- fied to just keep from goin’ to jail, was you?” Contemptuously, Powder Mace said, “Tll never be satisfied, Brule, until I’ve killed you.” Brule laughed, 2 low, harsh sound. “Then in just a little while, yuh’re gonna be mighty restless in yore grave.” Nancy Rolfe was on her feet. She came and stood between Tudcd Rayder and Turk Brule. Surprise was stamped on her face. | “What does he mean by that?” she asked Rayder. “You said—”’ “Ne’mind what I said,” Judd Ray- Ger growled. “You stay outa this, gal —you've done yore part.” He grinned at Turk Brule, said, “The bounty on this jasper’s six thousand dollars now, ain’t 1t?” “That’s right,” Brule nodded. “Then I’m ready for my money.” “That wasn’t what we agreed,’ Nan- cy said swiftly. “You promised me—” “Don’t matter a damn what I prom- ised you,” Rayder said harshly. “Go to yore recom, girl, and stay there. From now on this is man’s business. Git!” Ager and defiance blazed in the girl’s eyes. But before she could an- swer, a back-handed slap from Judd Raycder sent her reeling. She steadied herself, stared white-faced at Rayder. “If I had a gun I'd kill you,” she said fiercely, Then she slowly left the room. Turk Brule laughed, said, “She’s still a reg’lar wildcat, Rayder. She’ll be tamed before I’ve had her half as long as you have.” “Mebby you'll sing a different tune, when you get her,’ Rayder said sul- lenly. “Now about that bounty—” “Ain't no hurry about the money,” Brule said shortly. “I won’t be in any hurry about the fun I’m gonna have with this hellion here. You hear that, Mace?” Powder Mace stared silently up at Brule, contempt in his smoky eyes. He was sick to the soul. Quarreling like buzzards over the blood-bounty mon- ey he would bring—and Nancy Rolfe was one of them! “Not talkin’, huh?” Turk Brule snarled in a sudden fury. One of his shiny boots lifted, thudded brutally into Powder Mace’s side. “You'll talk, ail right, before I’m through with you. You'll talk—and beg for death!” “What yuh aim to do with him, Turk?” Kayder asked whinningly. CONN HY, I HADN’T decided about ¥ that.” Turk Brule grinned slowly, and Powder Mace thought of a big tomcat licking its lips in antici- pation. “There’re ways of havin’ fun with a gent you hate worse’n hell it- self. Sabe 2?” Judd Rayder chuckled with grisly mirth. “You kin think of the dam’dest things to do, Turk! I reckon yuh’re wonderin’ how we trapped this hel- lion, huh?” “T had wondered about that,” Brule admitted. “The girl did it,” Rayder chuckled. “She tolled him here by tellin’ him I was bad hurt. Ain’t that a hell of a joke?” “Havin’ a purty step-daughter pays, after all.” “In more ways than one, mebby,”’ Judd Rayder said. “Remember, Brule, you ain’t got her yet.” “T’ll have her, all right,” Turk Brule said softly. “And I won’t wait much longer. You dumb fool—you better take the thousand I offered for her, and be glad to get it!” “Two thousand,’ Rayder insisted. “Remember, Brule, I’m her legal guardian. I’d be takin’ a hell of a risk, sellin’ her to you like that. Two thou- sand....” Powder Mace lay there, his heart flooded with bitterness and disgust as he listened to their bickering. Nancy Rolfe had helped her step-father trap Powder Mace, so he could collect the bounty Turk Brule had offered for him. Still Judd Rayder wasn’t satis- fied—he was selling Nancy Rolfe to Brule, like he’d sell a cow or a horse! Powder Mace thought, “Hell, what do I care about that? She’s no better than the rest—she deserves what she gets!” Stealthily, he tested the ropes he cComicbooks CO