15 Western Short Stories — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

GUNSMOKE IS A BADGETOTER'S GLORY 97 the alley, sailed high into the air, and landed a few teet short oi the building. “They'll tie a rock to the next one— so’s they can throw it farther,” Hawkes said matter-of-tactly. Kirby nodded to himself. The jail house was of stout logs, but dry as tinder. Its shingled roof would blaze like pow- der. And once one of those flaming sticxs landed, they’d be caught like rats in a trap. Kirby peered at the alley. “If one of us could blast them out of that alley,” he said, “he could set up a cross fire that would make it safe to leave the building.” “Our lead won’t reach the alley from here,” Hawkes pointed cut. “One of us would have to leave tne building—” “That was what I was thinking,” Joe Kirby said. “One of us could get through that little window in the storeroom before they found out what we was up to. I could wriggle through and outflank ‘em—” Then he stopped, aware of what he was saying, and how it must have sounded to Hawkes. Once out of-the building—why should he stop to help Hawkes out? Once out of the build- ing, what was to keep him from rid- ing? He looked at the sheriff. The oldster was still hunkered down at the window, watching for a target. Just then another torch sailed out of the alley. Hawkes fired at it in midair, but missed. They could hear the gentle “thump” as it landed on the roof. Within a matter of minutes, now, Kirby knew, the building would be a mass of flames. He got to his feet, and moved to- ward the corridor. He paused by the gun rack and picked out another six gun, shoved it in his belt. Somehow, he'd felt undressed without that sec- ond gun. Sheriff Hawkes turned; and Kirby could feel the lawman’s gaze boring into his back. Involuntarily, he slowed down, waiting for the sheriff to speak, but no words came, and then he was in the dark corridor. Hank Bowers cursed and asked for a gun as Kirby passed his cell, but the deputy kept on going. It hurt like hell to pull himself up through the window, and the pain in his body sent dancing lights in front of his eyes. He made it, though, then slid both legs across the sill and dropped. Dizziness overcame him when he hit the ground, and whether he wanted to, or not, he sprawled full length, his face pressed against the earth, until the spell passed. “You hear anything?” The voice was close by, and Kirby froze. “Naw—just them shingles popping when they catch on fire,’ another voice grunted, and Kirby breathed again. Slowly, inch by inch, he crawled along. It was growing lighter by the minute, as the roof of the jail became a flaming mass. And the light increased the dan- ger of exposure. Then, he was in the alley back of the Golden Chance. He stood up, and moved slowly to- ward the street. When he reached the sidewalk, the street of Tumbleweed City was almost light as day. Across the street, he could make out the four men hunkered in the alley. The flames silhouetted Masden’s head and shoul- ders. Then he was running—a shambling, stumbling stagger—but running, nev- ertheless. Both his guns were out now, and flame from his right gun was lancing into the alley mouth. Other guns began to spurt around him now, and he felt the dull shock of lead. Rut the staggering run itself saved him, for it made him a hagd target, and the dancing light from the flames helped. And he knew his lead was hitting home, into that close-packed bunch in the alley. Then, midway across the street, his right hand gun clicked empty. Now, he thought, there won’t be any doubt in Hawkes’ mind as to who I am. Not now. And Joe Kirby did a curious thing. E TOSSED both guns into the air, and when he caught them, he'd transferred guns. The loaded gun was in his right hand—the empty in his left. And as his right hand began to buck under the gun’s concussion, he was thinking of the reward dodger in Hawkes’ office, and the words that were printed on it— ‘,..Wwears two guns, but, only fires . Com EDOO SoC