2 Gun Western, May 1957 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 - 2.GUN WESTERN his hands, hat removed and eyes bare- ly clearing the top of the cotton stalks, eyes searching, eyes strain- ing at the blackness of the timber. It was minutes betore he caught the faint movement in the shadow of the timber at the edge of the cotton. Finally then he made out the shapes of two men there, and as they moved a little again, his fingers tightened on the shotgun. That big figure was_ unmistakable, the gut bulging over the belt. Busch’s faint whine reached Jud’s ears, “I tell you I heard a young’un. They’s more folks here. We better hit for California, Cugat!” “Shut up” Cugat said. “Franklin’s wife is due; that’s what he was ina sweat about. If we can kill ’em, we’re safe. The Indians'll be blamed. Come on. 93 A trembling fury engulfed Jud Franklin as the two moved cautious- ly out into the cotton, bent over. “Listen!” Busch’s voice held a sud- den panic. “Listen, Cugat!” Franklin was listening also, the sound was hardly a sound, only a faint pulsation in the earth, such a sound made by many hooves hammer- - ing the baked earth. “Horses!” Busch - squawked. “A dozen of them. It’s help coming from town—or more Indians! I’m getting the hell out of here!” Cugat leaped, and Busch cried out as Cugat’s gun bounced off his head. “Damm you! Get the horses. Them men are a long way off yet. Bring the nags around the other side of the cabin. Franklin will come out when he hears them fellers, and I'll fill his gut with lead, then another minute will take care of the women. We'll light out then for town. We'll be clear. Git! And Pll cut your guts out if you don’t do like I say!” USCH FLED for the timber, and D the sound had become the mur- mur of hooves now, rising like a dis- tant wind. Cugat started for the cab- in, cutting to the left of Jud Frank- lin, Jud’s rage sent him upward, the hammer coming back on the shotgun. Cugat both saw Jud then and heard the clicks, and he fired, lunging aside. Jud jerked the triggers of the shotgun, not even aware of Cugat’s shot other than a flash of flame. With the thunderous double blast of the gun, a giant hand seemed to slam Cugat to the ground, his body disappearing down into the cotton, A gusty, bubbling cry escaped him, and Jud was lunging toward him, the shotgun swinging by the hot barrel. somehow the renegade had strug- gled to his knees, the moon light showing the great bloody spot of Stomach, his gun straining upwaxd, eyes bulging. Jud Franklin was upon him then, the gun swinging in a whizzing are to crash soddenly and with splintering wood against Cugat’s head. The renegade’s pistol blasted harmlessly into the cotton, and Cugat tumbled in a convulsive heap in the loose soil, Jud hit him twice more with the stockless ptin before he saw the need for it was over, and then he wheeled, remembering Busch, and pulling his pistol turned for the timber. Lettie’s scream halted him instant- ly, then Liz Holder’s shouts came too, and through the sound of the women, Jud heard the sudden clatter of hoofs, the crashing of brush that fad- ed with the rider’s passage. Busch was Selling out. Heading west, Indian country. Busch very likely would nev- er make it to California... _ : Jud turned and ran toward the cab- in. “All right, Leftie!” he yelled. “I’m all richt, There’s help coming from town!” Ele burst into the cabin to push Lettie back on the bed, their voices mingling in assurances. Jud didn’t se@ the tears in Liz Holders eyes, nor hear her say, “Jud Franklin you big ox, you’re just a limber-head over your wife and baby, but you are tough on renegades and 1”? Indians! “Shucks, Lettie,” Jud was saying, “punch of men coming from town, you can hear them now, plain. Neoth- ing to worry about atall! Heck, PU have that barn built back and full of prairie hay ‘fore snow!” Lettie pulled him down into her arms, and holding him and the baby and smiling at Liz, she murmured “I know you will, Jud darling, I know you will.. END Conn icbooks Gom