Cowboy Short Stories, November 1939 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

56 COWBOY SHORT STORIES to stand staring, their voices making a lit- tle curious din. They were wet, most of them. The rain was falling now in a steady downpour. The voices were still of a sudden and Dan faced Spade Malone again. Malone was on his feet at last, weaving, his thick lips mashed into a bloody smear. “You just —postponed it, Dan! . . . Turner—gi'me my gun!” Pop shook his head. “Not now. I'll leave it at the hotel desk. You can get it when I'm gone.” A muscle alongside Spade’s mouth twitched nervously. He scowled, but he nod- ded. ‘‘Dan,” he said softly, “When I get my gun—lI’m comin’ after you! If you’re a man —you'll wait for me!” He glanced down then at the body of his dog lying there in the eave-drip. There was silence around him as he turned and walked down the steps and away down the street; and there was silence afterward while two men lifted the dog and carried it to the end of the porch and dropped it over the rail, out of sight.The crowd was waiting, watching Dan. Dan saw, instead, bright moonlight on a gicl’s white coat; two figures, man and girl, standing beside a horse-corral. The girl’s arms lifted hungrily. She raised her lips... She loved the man. No doubt of that; no earthly doubt of it. In a little while now, that man would come hunting for Dan Coward. Dan could meet him, talk to him in gun-smoke—or leave the country. He wasn’t afraid to meet Malone. He’d met him once today, and beaten him. He could again. He knew that certainly, and the thought of doing it brought no fear with it. And yet—he could ~ not,. either. Not when it meant what it would mean—to June! No; he would leave. That's what the town expected him to do. It wouldn’t sur- prise anyone that a man afraid of a kitten should be afraid of Malone ... And yet— it was harder, somehow, to pretend to fear than it had been to mask it! If he faced Malone today there would be no fear in him again, ever. He knew that, without knowing how he knew it... . But if he ran— - Pop Turner said, “Thanks, son. That was a nervy thing. I'm thankin’ you. He would’ve had June, sure.” Dan shrugged. “It was safe enough,” he said slowly. “I covered my hand with my hat.” “Yeah? And his teeth tore through the hat like it was paper! If he'd gone an eighth of an inch deeper—”’ Dan grinned, ‘Maybe if I'd thought of that I wouldn’t have done it.” ‘‘Maybe you wouldn't,” Pop said softly; but there was no conviction in his tone. ‘Anyway, I’m thankin’ you. .. . And it ain’t over, Dan. Malone meant what he said to you. You ain’t forgettin’ that, are you?” | Dan said, “I’m not forgettin’ it. ’'m— leavin’ town.” One of the men on the porch laughed oddly and turned. One by one, the others followed him, filing in through the hotel door and through the lobby to the bar. Someone said, harshly, “See? What'd I tell yuh? A flash in the pan; that’s all. Acted without thinkin’, Now that he’s had time t? think—”’ The roar of rain on the tin roof and the _hard crash of the thunder shut off those sounds and June said, “Dan.” Dan turned. She stood between him and the steps. She said, “You've whipped your fear... That's true, Dan; isn’t it?” He shrugged. “It doesn’t look that way, does it? You heard what I said... .” ‘But you weren't afraid a while ago; not of the dog, nor of Malone! I watched you, Dan; I saw your eyes. I know! . . . Why don’t you meet him, Dan?” Dan stared at her. “You mean—? You mean, you want me to—?... I'd kill him, June. I’m faster with a gun than Spade. .” “IT know...” ‘“But—June! I thought—I thought you loved him! I saw you—in his arms—last night!” Her head jerked up. “Last night? You're crazy, Dan! ... What did you see?” He told her, spilling words in one swift rush that faltered oddly as he saw the sud- den gleam of laughter in her eyes. “But, Dan! That wasn’t me! Silly! You should’ve known!” ‘“‘Not you? But, June—the coat!” “I loaned the coat to Betty Duane—one of my dudes! The little fool! I didn’t know she'd set her cap for Spade; I'll talk to NEP Sa ; A sheet of flame broke blindingly around them then and the crash of the thunder was like an explosion. June screamed and came straight into Dan’s encircling arms. GOMIGIOO (C@