Fifteen Western Tales, March 1954 — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

er <= ie Tet Se ees ime a = 3 =, t — ~ etna P ~ = a a = ome = ~ . - - ~< > ——F FIFTEEN WESTERN TALES Se See ae | they friendly with the Comanche war parties ? Not likely, for the Comanches hated all.white men. Red Riley rode up out of the sunrise. He hailed Beaver Smith as he came up. “Heard the news, greasy shirt?” he called. “Your Indian amigos have cleaned out some Mormons. Four-five of the wagon train got away. My bed wagon is fetchin’ two wounded men, and there’s one woman. Got a doctor in your outfit?” Professor Conway stepped forward. “IT had two years of medicine. I’ve a fair sup- ply of bandages and medicines.” “You'll need ’em. Smith, go easy on that booze. Them Injuns mean business and you can’t do much dead -drunk.” “Mind your own outfit. Ill run mine,” snarled Beaver Smith. “Shut up. I know all about how you run wagon trains, you yellow-bellied coyote. My boys are comin’ with the cattle as fast_ as they kin haze ’em along. There’s. women in this wagon train. They’re a heap more valuable than cattle. Ill turn my _ herd loose if I have to, to help save your wagon train. But you’re takin’ orders from Red~ Riley. Is that clear in your coyote mind? Or do I have to whup it into your skull with a gun barrel?”’. Beaver Smith nodded sullenly. Red Riley reined his horse and rode over to Dan, who stood apart from the crowd. “Howdy, Dan. You heard what I told the skunk feller. It’s on the level. There’s Injun fightin’ comin’. You kin see the dust of my herd comin’ up. And my remuda will be here directly to throw in with yours. ‘Any news?” “Duke Harbison and his outlaws is plan- nin’ to steal the Bar R herd, Red. Duke was here three nights ago.” “Figured it was Duke, right along. Mex- ico got too hot for him. But the Comanches has him and his rustlers dodgin’ fast. The noble redskin upset his apple cart and has him on the run. If I ain’t badly mistook, Duke will be runnin’ to us for protection. “Keep an eye on Beaver Smith. Some of them renegade Indians are his amigos. If he shows signs of turnin’ traitor, kill him like you’d kill a rattler. I’m leavin’ you as_ sort of straw boss, Dan. Ride close herd on Beaver Smith. So long.” Red Riley was hardly out of sight when the Bar R bed-wagon, drawn by four stout Spanish mules, came into sight. Two dusty riders flanked the wagon. As they came nearer Dan saw that one of the riders was’ a woman. The other was a man who did not belong to the Bar R. One of the Mor- mons, Dan reckoned. Men and a few women crowded around the wagon. The men were helping two wounded men from the wagon. But Dan wasn’t watching them. He was staring like a man in a trance at the woman who sat her sweaty horse. She wore a soiled, torn, blood-spattered riding habit, a divided skirt and jacket of fringed buckskin. Her hat was gone and thick, copper-colored hair tumbled about her face that was white and drawn beneath its tan. Her dark gray eyes swept the crowd. ‘Then she was looking down at Dan. With a sharp, hoarse little cry she slid from her horse, leaning dizzily against the animal. “Nat!” cried Dan hoarsely. “Dan! Little Danny!” She clung to him, her arms around his neck, her thick hair all but smothering him. She was laughing and crying at the same time. A big lump came into Dan’s throat that kept choking back the words. he was trying to say. And there must have been tears in his eyes be- cause he could not see the white face of Lee Conway looking from the canvas opening — of her wagon. She was staring at Dan and at the girl who was hugging him tightly and talking to him in broken little sobs. Lee withdrew her head with a jerk and pulled the canvas closed. | Natalie’s mother did not know her. Dan saw the stricken look in his sister’s eyes, saw her start back as if struck when her EComicbooks-com