Fifteen Western Tales, March 1954 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

Se : 3 iia eee a Se As oe 8 "8 FIFTEEN WESTERN TALES | picious.” He walked quickly to his horse. “No, dammit!” His eyes flamed fiercely. The hours drifted past. The men sank down under cover as the sun rose to beat down on the wells with intense heat. Dane climbed up beside Trooper Schmitz. The German silently pointed at a column of smoke rising from the hills not two miles away. Then he pointed toward the valley mouth, miles to the southwest. A thread of smoke hung against the clear sky. “Mo- haves,” dem, sir.”’ 3 Dane nodded. There was an uneasy feel- ing in the air. Schmitz looked down at Clif- ton. “Mister Clifton-iss very upset, Cap- tain York. He has been a very devil on dis detail. Mein Gott! I haf never been raw- hided so much since I enlisted in Saint Louis tree years ago.” Clifton was pacing back and forth, seem- ingly oblivious of the scorching heat. What was it Dennehy had said? “There is a black dog ridin’ the lieutenant’s back.” At noon Corporal Dennehy come slowly down the rocks. His face was flushed with the intense heat. He walked slowly to Stuart Clifton.” “Sir,” he said quietly, “the men are hav- ing a hard time of it up there. There is no protection at all.” . Clifton looked up and for a moment it seemed as though he did not see the Irish- man. “Wha. was that?” he asked. “The men are in a bad way, sir. Hardin is almost passed out. Kerr is ill. They can not stand so much of this sun.”’ “Jo they want the Mohaves in here?”’ Dennehy pushed back his campaign hat. The collected drops of sweat ran down his face. “Perhaps if we relieved some of them? For a time at least, Mister Clifton?” “Get back up there!”’ Dennehy turned. “Trooper Shorrs has left his pest. He is down by the old well in the shade. Shall I place him under ar- rest, $'r?” he said, ““Dere must be many uf. “The men say he should be up there too if they are to stay.” - Clifton stood up. “Shorrs is there with my permission. Now will you get out of here?” Hank Mooney looked up from the shade. “He’s right, Clifton,” he said. “‘Let some’ of them come down or they won’t be able to.” “Mind your business. It was you who spread those wild stories about the Mohaves being out there.” “Maybe you'd like to go out there and look yourself ?”’ Clifton turned on a heel. 1?” here, Dennehy ! “Get out of “T’ll have to send some of those men ~ down, sir. It is inhuman to do otherwise.” Clifton whirled. He drew his Colt and cocked it. “Get up on those rocks !” “Sir, be reasonable. I will keep enough men up there for a good watch.” — Clifton’s finger tightened on the trigger. - “Are you going up there?” “Not until you agree to do as I ask.” The Colt crashed before anyone could do anything about it. Dane leaped to his feet and ran toward Clifton. Dennehy. swayed, gripping his left side.” There was an amazed look on his face. Clifton turned foward Dane. “Get back!” he shouted. “Damn you! Damn all of you!” | CHAPTER THREE Saber Clash HAS JUMPED to his feet. Clifton whirled to fire from the hip. Dane snatched up a rock and threw it.- It glanced from the pistol barrel. The gun crashed and the slug whined from the hard earth. Dennehy fell forward on his face as Dane ~ closed with Clifton. They struggled back and forth silently. Sweat broke out on Dane as he gripped the pistol wrist and 7 3 <EcOMIEbOOKS: co _ z = > ~@ 10" ‘ a. . ‘ —S* » % oe ae ET, wat ein 4 t = — = i ee ee te Aes Ee St eg ee