Fifteen Western Tales, March 1954 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

ee ~ — 7: py! Main oe - SS, © > = = ° 4 A na : WAC = osat Pe ee > i OO er ey ge OT ee Oe a eee ee ae, “ry £2 WAR AT SPANISH WELLS forced the weapon upward. It roared again. Hank ran toward them but behind him ap- peared Trooper Shorrs. As Hank closed the gap Shorrs swung his carbine. Hank went down as the steel-shed butt hit him behind the ear. Shorrs leaped over the fallen scout and rammed his carbine muz- zle in Dane’s back. = “Let go,” -he said between his teeth, “or I'll hole you up with this.” Dane let go and stepped back. For a mo- ment blind hate eopeared on Clifton’s face and then he jerked his head at Shorrs. “Take over as corporal, Shorrs. Keep . this man and Mooney under guard.” Marion stood at the edge of the canvas fly, her hands at her throat. Then she ran to Dennehy. She knelt beside him. “He is badly wounded,” she said. Dane turned toward her. “I'll help you,” he said. “Get back here!”’ shouted Shorrs. Dane ignored him. He knelt by the Irishman. “Get the medical pannier,” he said to Marion. “I'll have to probe for the slug.” It was pitch-black before the moon rose. Dane sat beside Dennehy. The Irishman’s harsh breathing seemed loud in the stillness. Marion looked at Dane. “Will he live ?”’ “T doubt it. The slug smashed three ribs. I am afraid there is a hole in his lung from one of them.” Trooper Rustames leaned on his carbine ~ behind them. “Dennehy is a good soldier,” he said. “He was trying to help us.” Dane shook his head at the trooper. “Be careful. You are supposed to be guarding me, Rustames. : Rustames spat. “That Shorrs,” he said, “the swine. He is in good company with Mister Clifton.” Dane leaned close to the Irishman. “Tim,” he said, “can you hear me?” “Aye.” ' “How does it feel, Tim?” = “It is all over with me, Captain York.” “You'll live, Tim.” “No. I have seen too many men hit this way.” Tim coughed. “There is something I want to tell you, sir. Where is Mister Clifton ?” “Up on the rocks I think. He expects the Mohaves.” “T almost hope they come and take his scalp.” Tim gripped Dane’s wrist. “There is something I must tell you. Listen well— I lied at the court-martial. I never saw you at the troop headquarters. I was drunk on guard that night. I never saw anyone there. I could not remember and I was told you had been there. I said you had come from squadron headquarters with something in your hand. I never saw you at all that night. I was afraid I would be drummed out if they knew I was drunk on guard. I was willing to swear to anything to get in the clear. I thought you had done the dirty deed. My evidence did not seem to add much. It saved me and helped to finish you.” Dane looked up at Marion. She leaned over Tim. “Who told you to testify, Tim?” “Mister Clifton. He had threatened to drum me out before if I drank on duty. The army is the only life I know. I was weak. It was a terrible thing to do.” Dane stood up. He looked through the shadows. Avcold feeling of hate was in him. He walked toward the tinaja.. é “Where are you going, Dane?” called © Marion. Dane did not answer. Rustames made no move to stop him. Dane went to Clifton’s pallet. The officer was not there. | He walked softly through the rock passage- way. Two men were standing there. A horse was behind them. Dane faded into the darkness. It was Clifton and Shorrs. Shorrs was talking. “No, Mister Clifton,” he said. ‘*The deal was for five hundred, I’ll admit, but I’ve done more than my share. I want an, even split.” =——GoOmicbooks (E@)