Fifteen Western Tales, March 1954 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

_— mes - ar ag Ge Le Oa TR Be POe gn ee Fe Oe aes ot i == Se Pare eS oH ~NeS a Sa oo an = ees =, —- —j —s ee “a2 * t - - aoe ~ ae eS OMAR “AT SPANISH WELLS : Hank Mooney was gone when Dane re- turned to the camp. Dane went to his blan- kets. Dennehy came over and squatted be- side him. “Hank has gone orf a scout,” he said, “You have been talking with Miss Lake ?” “Yes. Did Shorrs tell you?” “Shorrs? How should he know?” “Never mind. What’s bothering ~- you, Dennehy ?” Dennehy hesitated. He glanced back at | the canvas fly sheltering Marion and then > at Stuart Clifton, asleep close beneath the rock walls. “Be careful, Captain York. Watch your back if the Mohaves come.”’ “Meaning?” Dennehy stood up. “‘A word to the wise, sir.” He turned on a heel and went to his blankets. Dane eyed the sleeping troopers and then looked up at the three men stand- ing guard atop the rock walls. He drew out his Colt and placed it close at hand. ME CAMP was astir when Dane awoke, It was an hour before dawn. A cold wind searched the camp. The tall fig- ure of Stuart Clifton stalked through the camp, lashing the surly troopers with his bitter tongue. Marion sat by the fire with . a tin cup of coffee in her hand. ° Clifton turned as Hank padded silently into the camp leading his sorrel. ' He dropped the sorrel’s reins and leaned on his rifle, eying the troopers who were saddling up. The firelight shone on a bandage bound about: Hank’s left wrist. Dane threw back his blankets and hurried over to the scout. “What happened, Hank?” he asked. All eyes turned toward the scout. Hank rubbed his jaw. “You ain’t figgerin’ on pushin’ on, are you, Mister Clifton?” he asked. Clifton turned quickly, “Why not? We've got a good hour to get out of the valley before dawn.” 7 <= an * re a | Hank shook his head. He talked loudly. “The Mohaves are at the valley mouth near Standing Rock. One of them got at me with a knife.” He held up his left © wrist. - Clifton cursed. “How many of them are there?” “More than I’ve ever-seen before. They chased me to within a half mile of here. Warriors with repeating rifles. Damned near got me.’ “T’ve got enough men to get past them.” Hank spat. “You won’t get half a mile I tell you!.They’re on all sides of us now.’ . Clifton looked up at Trooper: Schmitz. The German was looking to the north. “What do you see, Schmitz?” “Dere was a flash uf fire, Mister Clifton. Half a mile from here nod more dan fifteen minutes ago.” Trooper Hagan called down from the- south wall. “T seen some fire ’bout half a mite south] of here an hour ago, sir!” - : Clifton cupped his hands about his motitt and shouted up at Blanchard who was lean- _ing on his carbine lookingsto the east. “Have you seen anything, Blanchard?” “Ves, sir. Looked like'a burst of flame ~ about a mile away.” “When did you, see it?” “Couple of hours ago, Mister Clifton. Right after the moon died.” | The men looked at each other. Clifton - paced back and forth. Dane eyed him. There seemed to be an unholy haste in Stuart Clifton. Marion emptied her cup and stood up. “We had better stay here, Stuart. = “We must go on! = “T won't go.’ “And if I order you to?” She smiled. “You have no ) authority over me, Stuart.” Clifton aitied to Dennehy. “Keep the horses saddled. All of you men get up on those rocks and keep your eyes peeled. Shoot if you see anything sus- CORMEIOOLS com