2-Gun Western, February 1954 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

70 HE NEXT twenty feet were three times harder than the forty feet when he was alone. . His right foot searched the wall for a toehold, found one, then lost it as the rock broke under his foot. The sudden jolt made Staley’s body jerk back, and Sam gagged as the rope cut into his chest. His forearm burned and stune where the skin had been scraped. He pressed against the hot wall, but Staley’s weight sagged, trying to pull him toward space. The rope moved in his hand and he knew his horse had taken a step. Or else the cinch was loosening—or the knot he had tied— He remembered the black dog—a trouble maker— Sam pressed harder against the wall un- til a spur of stone made a pain in his rib. He resumed his downward journey. His arms were tearing from their sock- ets. He was fifty years old. He had never stopped to realize that fifty isn’t thirty. He hadn’t thought of it. Now he did. His hat was knocked off the sun was a sledgehammer on his head, but the sweat that had smarted across his forehead be- gan to dry, and that was a relief.. He paused only a minute on the second ledge. The sooner he got down, the sooner he could get rid of his burden. Rubble and broken slide rock made a traversable slope along the wall from this SeALEMENLT KietuistevDp BY THe ACT OF AUGUST £4, jvyiz, aS AMaovkhy BY THE ACT'S OF MAKCH 3, AND Less, Judy 2, iUdo (UPille SY. - United Siates tous dSeonmou 2463) SHUWING THis OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULATION 2-Gun Wester published quurterly at New York, N. Y, tur wclopee J. 1u05, 1. Die umes aud addresses of the publisher, editor, man- aging editor, and business munugers are: Publisher, Stadium Pubiushing Corporation, 270 Mark Ave.4: New York 17, N, ¥. Kditor, Kobert , Krisman, 27u Park Avye., New York 17, N. Y. Business manager, Abralam Goodman, 270 Lark Ave., New York 17. N, Y. = » The owner is: (if owned. by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and also immediately thereunder the names and addresses of stuckholders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. Lt owned by a partnership or other unincorporated firm, its name and address, as well as that of euch individual member, must be given.) Stadium Publish- ing Corp., 270 Park avenue, New York 17, N. Y., Abraham qjvodmun, 270 Park Avenue, New York 17, N. Y. Arthur Goodman, 270 Park Avenue, New York 17,-N, ¥. David Goodman, 270 Park Avenue, New York 17, N. Y. 3. The known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: (If there ara none, 80 state.) None, 4. Paragraphs 2 and 3 include, in cases where the stock- holder or security holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting;, also the statements in the two paragraphs show the affiant’s full knowledge and belief as to the cireumstances and conditions wunder which stoekholders and security holders who do no appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner, 5, The Average number of copies of each issue of this pub- lication sold or distributed, through the mails or otherwise, to paid sibseribers during the 12 months preceding the date shown above was: (This information ig required from daily, weekly, semiweekly, and triweekly newspapers only.) ABRAHAM GOODMAN (Signature of business manager) Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of Sep- tember, 1953, (My commission. expires _ March 30, TESS HARWOOD (GOLDBERG) Notary Public, State of New York No. °08-6797825 Qualified in Bronx County Certs. filed with Bronx County Reg. ; and New York Co, Clk. & Rag, Commission Expires March 30, 1954, 2-GUN WESTERN shelf. Going crablike across the narrow places, on hands and knees where he could, Sam reached the bottom of the canyon. When the rope that bound Staley to him had been cut, Sam lay down, trembling with fatigue. His arms were heavy lumps of pain. In a little while, he got up. He found his hat caught in a thorny bush, then he hunted dry branches and stepped on them to break them into the right lengths. Using the rope end and his neckerchief, he made erude splints for Staley’s arm and leg. He plodded down the Cut and back up the hill to where his saddle horse was wait- ing. He rode to Deer Creek for a drink before he went back to Will. There was no hurry. Will had lived this long, he’d live longer. If he didn’t, why, he didn’t, that was all. The strain on Sam’s arms made it hard for him to life Staley face down across the saddle, but he managed. He walked and Jed the horse to the ranch house. Sam put Staley on the bed and washed him carefully. He tore strips from a sheet that had been Jane’s, and bound up Staley’s head. He laid the arm and leg out straight, cut the torn clothing away and put on bet- ter splints. Then it was safe to go for a doctor. He . . would go past the cabin and send Molly - and the kids up here to stay until Will could be moved. They would have enough to eat, and that was something. Sam stopped in the kitchen for another drink of water. The water bucket was half full and the water was lukewarm. Carrying the tin dipper, Sam went to the creek for a fresh drink. The black dog followed, belly dragging, at a distance, then lapped fran- tically at the creek water. Sam went back to the kitchen and found a half dozen cold biscuits which he threw outside for the dog. He did not look at the injured man again. He watered the gelding, too. While he waited, he thought wearily of how a man had to do things.... You go to kill this dirty son. Instead, you almost die trying to save him, knowing all the time he isn’t worth it. You take him into your home, give him your bed and your food. You take care of him and nurse him back to health, You look after his family. His dog. And when he is strong and well and can stand’ up to face you, man to man—then you want to kill him again.... 9 END (C@ (E@)