2-Gun Western, November 1955 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

NOON TOMORROW way he looked at you, I thought he was going to draw on you right in . heres “It almost seemed that way,’ Jim agreed, “but it couldn’t be. He’d have no reason for hunting me. No-one would pay good money to have me killed. No, he’s just a killer and they all go off the deep end in time. His nerves are probably about shot.” Jim stood up and smiled again. “Don’t worry about him.” “IT hope you're right,” ‘she said doubtfully. He started for the door and she «said, “Jim,” and came around the counter. He STOPPED and she walked up to him and kissed him on the lips - and stepped back, her face very grave. It surprised him so that he stood motionless for a moment and then he stepped forward, took her in his arms and kissed her fully. When he re- leased her and stepped back, he was shaken by the intensity of the kiss and by the warm crush of her soft body against him. “I guess,” he said, “it is time to either fish or cut bait, is that it, Nell?” “That’s for you to know, Jim.” “Why, I suppose that’s right. I’ll be around to see you sometime after noon tomorrow.” He stepped forward and kissed her quickly and wheeled to walk from the cafe. The blonde girl stood with her hands pressed over her heart and her face heavy with worry for him. A boy on the street told Jim that Mojave Jack was again in the Palace and he wondered about that. The gun- man was apparently in no hurry to seek out his victim. With only a few hours remaining to him, it seemed strange that Jack would not get to work, Jim couldn’t believe that the gunman would wait past noon. That would mean another fight and with a man who knew how to use a gun. Jack’s kind didn’t take unnecessary chances. Maybe Jack thought his victim would come to the saloon tonight, a thought that ordinarily wouldn’t be too far off, since the Palace was the town’s best saloon. But everyone knew the gunman was in town and if a man had any reason to think that he was marked for death, he would not go 31 near the place. Several men,had rid- den out already. It had Jim baffled. He made his usual night rounds, hitting all the saloons, including the Palace, and everything was running smoothly. In most of the places a sizeable crowd was on hand and they were all eager to talk to Jim about Mojave Jack. Jim didn’t stop to talk. He knew no more about it than they did. The word was out that he had given the killer until tomorrow noon to leave and they were speculating about that, but he let them speculate. When he came to the Palace, he found it deserted except for Mojave Jack, old Doc Barnes and Monty Ferris. The gunman only glanced at Jim incuriously and went back to his game of cards, Ferris shrugged ex- pressively and Jim shook his head. He went out and down the street and met Nell as she closed the cafe at ten. He walked her home and nei- ther of them mentioned Mojave Jack. He knew she was worried, but she knew men and she sensed that he didn’t want to talk about it. She would do her worrying in private. His respect for her increased with the knowledge that she refused to make his job tougher by saddling him with her worries. After he left Nell, Jim continued his patrol of the streets until mid- nite, but the town was quiet. It was the time of year when there was plenty of work on the ranches and the only big night was Saturday. Mo- jave Jack sat quietly in the Palace, showing no interest in the town or its people, a deadly enigma. Shaking. his head in wonder, Jim went to his ‘room at the hotel, undressed and turned in. He laid awake a long time thinking, but got nowhere and final- ly dropped into an uneasy sleep. [* THE MORNING, Jim was down early and had breakfast at Nell’s. There were dark circles under her eyes, telling of a sleepless night, but she had a smile for him and she didn’t mention Mojave Jack. After break- fast, he went to the Palace and found Monty Ferris in his office in the back of the saloon. There was no-one else in the place, except Ernie Shields, the swamper, who was lazily sweep- ing up. Jim sat down and pushed his hat back and smiled at Monty. CoOTmmMiclaooks CO