2-Gun Western, November 1955 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

30 Going back to the office, Jim pondered his conversation with the gunman. He was puzzled by Mojave Jack’s edginess. It was almost as though the man had wanted a fight, but that couldn’t be. If he was here to kill a man, he would want to keep © out of trouble until the job was done. Perhaps he thought that everyone was afraid of him and consequently was insolent with everyone. But if that were true, he was doing some wrong thinking. Jim wasn’t afraid of Mojave Jack. He had a respect for Jack’s ability with a gun, but better gunmen had gone down. If it came to a fight, it wouldn’t be the first time Jim had looked through gun- smoke. He intended to keep a sharp watch on Jack while he was in town and he intended to enforce his order to leave. He had governed Bent Fork for better than a year and no man was going to change that just by riding in with a big reputation and scaring the people. ° ir KEPT A sharp watch on the street all afternoon and it amused him to see Fred Keaton slip out the back door of the bank, saddle a horse and line out of town. Something was on Keaton’s conscience and he was taking no chances. At three Ed Holmes also rode out. By five o’clock six respected businessmen had de- parted hurriedly. The town was quiet, as though peopled by dead men, No- one moved abroad and tension hung over the street like summer heat, close and-binding. At six o’clock Mo- jave. Jack came from the Palace and strode unhurriedly to Nell Peterson’s Cafe. Jeff left the office and went down there at once. Jim sat four stools down from Mo- jave Jack and ordered his supper. The gunman had given him one cool ap- praising glance when he came in and that was all. After that the two men- ignored each other and ate in a strict silence. Nell Peterson was nervous and made an unaccustomed racket as she served the three other customers. She dropped a cup and the sound was like a shot, Men along the counter jumped at the noise and then grinned foolishly. Everyone ate in frantic haste and departed. Mojave Jack took 2-GUN WESTERN his time, drinking a second cup of coffee when he had finished his meal. He and Jim were the only two diners left in the cafe. Nell Peterson came to take Jack’s dollar and the gunman smiled at her. “You ain’t too particular who you serve, are you, ma’am?” he asked and turned to look full on at Jim. Nell’s blue eyes darkened with fear and her hand shook as she picked up the dol- lar. She couldn’t answer. “Are you on the prod, Jack?” Jim asked softly. “If you are, just make it plain.” “Why, no, Marshal, not at all. What ever gave you that idea?” Jack got up in one quick movement and went to the door. He stopped there and turned about and asked, “That was noon tomorrow, wasn’t it?” “That’s right.” “So-long, Marshal,” Jack said and left the cafe. Jim sat still, more puz- zled than before, trying to make sense out of the gunman’s words, Nell came down the counter and put her hand on his. | “Oh, Jim, don’t cross him. He’d kill a man just for the funof it. You can see it in his eyes.” She was a tall girl, strong and well- built, a girl who had-.always had to work hard for what she got. She and - Jim had gone together off and on for all the time he had been here. He could never quite face the thought of settling down and being married, so he had never asked her. Her pride was too strong to let her push him. But she loved him and she couldn’t conceal it at this moment. Looking at her, Jim thought she was lovely. He squeezed her hand and smiled. “Don’t worry, honey, he’s just edgy. His kind don’t shoot men for fun. He’s been hired to kill someone here and as soon as he’s done his job, he'll ride out. I stepped on his toes when I told him to be out of town by tomorrow noon and he wants to show me he isn’t scared any. But he'll get his job done before noon and be out of here.” “But won’t you have to arrest him for murder?” “FHe’s too smart for that. He’ll make the other man draw first and claim self-defense. I won’t have anything | to hold him for.” - “But he was mad at you, Jim. The COMMICL\OO© S co fl)