Fifteen Western Tales, March 1954 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

oe “igre “A slim girl in boy's clothes?” Nat in- quired. “I met her only a little while ago, Dan, when you were out of the tent. She came from the wagon nearby. She looked like she’d been crying. I thought she might be sick, but when I said something to her she looked as if she wanted to kill me. I saw her ride off. That was an hour or more ‘ ago.” e They looked at one another in puzzled silence.. Then they were startled into action by the sudden rattle of gunfire. It came from back in the hills, not a mile distant. gritted Red. “‘Let’s go!” “Come on, Dan,” CHAPTER FIVE Night of Battle AN, RED RILEY and every Bar R cowboy were riding with guns in their hands. As they left the herd they saw In- dians pouring down from the hills. And they saw about fifteen or twenty white men in a bunch at a dead run for the wagon train. A wild burst of yelling came from the little bunch of spurring riders. “Ay, Chihuahua! Ay, Chihuahua! They yelled their wild war cry. : “Duke Harbison,” grinned Red Riley, his blue eyes hard. “Duke and his Chihuahua renegades. But now he’s got half the Co- manche Injuns in the world comin’ at him. We'd orter let ’em lift Duke’s scalp, but hell, he’s a white man an’ so’s a lot of his Chi- huahuas ... .” And as they spurred ahead Dan rode stirrup to stirrup to cut off Duke Riley, charging the Indians who were riding to cut off Duke Harbison and his men from the safety of the wagon train. Their. battle cry rosé harshly above the war whoops of the painted: redskins who raced in a wide circle. Their bullets and ar- rows mostly going wild. Duke and his fight- ing renegades were making every bullet count. Their guns were piling up a deadly score. ~~ FIFTEEN WESTERN TALES | The ‘swift, unexpected charge of Red th Riléy and his Texans was now throwing the Comanches into wild confusion. They had counted on no open attack from the wagon train, and Red’s sudden, fierce charge had them bewildered. Some of them raced for — the safety of the hills. Others milled‘crazily. ~ And into the melee Dan rode with Red at — af clubbing, shoot- _ his side, into the tangle ing Indians. Lances thrust at him, war clubs of stone, tomahawks, knives, clubbed rifle barrels. Dan shot and clubbed and tried to keep on top of his lunging horse. Then through the red chaos he saw Duke Harbison. Duke was on a big black gelding, — a six-shooter in each hand. He was»hatless and his thick black hair was red with blood. And even as Dan sighted the man he had sworn to kill he saw Duke twist in his sad- dle, reach down with one arm, and pull ~ someone up behind his saddle. With a gasp Dan recognized the rescued rider whose — horse had been shot down, just as Duke swung her up on his black gelding. It was | Lee! She was astride the horse, behind Duke’s saddle, clinging to his waist. There was blood ~ on her white face. Duke saw Dan fighting his way through *: the tangle of Indians and horses. Duke’s big white teeth showed in a sort of grin. “Come and get her, Wyeth! Hurry! My horse is hit!” And as he yelled a bullet tore through his handsome face. But he was fighting, his two guns blazing as he swayed © drunkenly in the saddle. Dan reached. his side, as Duke’s game-hearted black horse -stumbled and went down. Dan’s right arm, like a steel hook, swung Lee upward as the 2 black horse fell. Dan felt Lee’s arms around him in a des- perate embrace as she swung herself straddle of his horse. He shot squarely, and at point- blank range, into the painted face of a warrior who had lifted a heavy: stone war club to brain him. The Indian reeled back- wards. Then Red Riley was. alongside. atigahyuctton iia hair 8 URS Aa Se UE iy EN Coa Lee oe . 4 ing? ¥ at SLO cree eT a): iy eee Os Piet rey ee ‘i rtd ' ahh Bi, - Cay, Le eee Tah ae ata Sy Le ay Wee va becker. oe) aes loa can pie oS TO : j : : he A 2 + ~ ¥, * at Pe g 2h coe ae ‘oe ee oe asa” } Gomichbooks: co