2-Gun Western, November 1955 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

44 he sank to his knees as Jep’s slug dug into his side. A third shot echoed the others, and Deck Koogler’s gun fell from his fingers; Keen Ralston’s shot carried Koogleéer’s tag. A smear of blood grew larger on the gunman’s shirt front, and his coughs brought red foam to his lips. The burly gun- nie hadn’t moved, then he dropped his sixgun and thrust his hands sky- ward. “You've got about one minute,” Jep shouted to the men in the cabin. He pointed to Poler who still knelt in the dirt, the blood oozing from be- tween his fingers. “Throw out your guns and come out with your hands up or you'll get it just like Ben and Koogler did.” The rest of Poler’s bunch had lost their stomachs for a fight. Revolvers and rifles were thrown through the door and windows, and Poler’s five slicks came in a sullen file into the clearing. Their eyes burned with hatred for both Jep and Poler, and one kicked at his late leader. Keen Ralston, grinning in his gray whisk- ers, took up the slack space behind Ben and his boys. “Here comes your posse, Ben.” Jep waved his gun toward the road as Jim Bristow charged into the little valley on his leathered bay. Behind him dragged the limb of a tree, the branches bobbing crazily, and clouds of dust rising from the few remaining leaves. A violent curse enarted from Ben Poler’s lips and he tried to rise. An angry growl rose from his slicks, but they knew it was too late to make a « NOON TOMORROW was held up by the bar and for-a minute his cold eyes glared at Jim. Blood was running from the wound - over his heart and his left hand started up as though to staunch it. But death caught him then and his eyes dulled and he pitched forward and hit on his face. He didn’t move again. There was a moment’s silence, while the shock of the noise made by the crashing guns wore off. Then Monty Ferris ran around the. bar, grabbed Jim’s hand and shook it violently. “You did it, kid, you did it. [ thought you were a goner; how 2-GUN WESTERN move. Jim Bristow was covering them from his horse, and Cliff, his right arm hanging limp, had made his way down from the pines. A new calmness showed in Jep’s face. “You fell for an old army trick, Ben. Jim raised a lot of dust draggin’ that tree limb, and you thought it was the posse from Pomeroy. Don’t worry though, we’ll see that you get a tree limb—all legal and on the table. The people in Tonka City are mighty tired of the way you’ve been prod- ding this territory for five years. Tie them up, Jim, and we’ll head back for Tonka.” It was almost twelve when Jep Parnell, the Bristow brothers and Keen Ralston stopped before the Tonka City jail and hustled Ben Poler and his boys inside. Deck Koogler hung face downward across ~ the saddle, a trail of blood marking the path that led back to Rake River. A dozen hands helped Cliff into the doctor’s office. “Drinks on me, boys,” Jep flung at Ralston and Jim Bristow, and led the way into the Mineral Saloon. “Cliff can collect his later, after the doc patches up that shoulder.” The batwing doors swung shut be- hind them, and the three sank weari- ly into their chairs. idly picked up a deck of cards, grim- ly remembering the dead man’s hand. Jep Parnell looked at the clock be- hind the bar, it was just noon, exact- ly twelve hours since Shattuck’s clay- bank had come in by itself. Ralston’s long fingers’started deal- ing automatically. @ END - (cont’d from page 33) did you ever beat him?” “He beat himself. He let me, get him mad and he fired wild. Always before he stayed cool and the other man got mad. This time he wasn’t fightin’ for pay and he blew it. I was countin’ on that.” Jim turned and walked from the saloon. On the walk outside he remembered the gun which was still in his hand. He dropped it back in holster and started down the street, hurrying now, seeing Nell running toward him. He had something to ask her and it suddenly was very urgent. @END MICLOO CO S Keen Ralston . (CO) AA