2 Gun Western, May 1957 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

The sheriff's job was to take his man in, dead or alive. But Jim Baxter knew that his oath of office also demanded that he provide the prisoner by ADOLPH BENNAUER b HERIFF JIM BAXTER didn’t You ain’t got what it takes. Your like the looks of it. Returning pals, Slim Scanlon and Chuck Mad- to Hassayampa with his prison- den, was in on it too.” er, he found the tracks of two other His prisoner’s face froze. riders cutting into the trail he’d “About the only thing you did,” made from town the day before. He the sheriff went on, “was to act as had a disturbing suspicion as to who lookout. But, of course, you're in as those riders might be. deep as the others. That is,” he add- He stole a glance at the hand- ed, “unless you want to turn state’s cuffed man jogging along beside him, evidence.” Toad William’s pudgy face was still Toad Williams leered. “You're just as sullen as when Baxter picked him wastin’ your breath, Sheriff. I’ll talk up. But there was a sinister gleam when I have to. An’ maybe I won't in the pig-like eyes that studied have to.” : those merging hoofprints. Williams, Maybe he wouldn’t at that, Baxter too, seemed to guess their meaning. All about, the desert lay baking in the noonday heat. The Terrapin Hills, where the sheriff had first come upon the fugitive, were now Taking his pris- ai oner in was go- a ing to be a hard fight. @ ; only a thin blue line to the rear. Ten thought, His glance dropped to the miles ahead the Sawtooth Range, strange hoofprints again, followed which they must cross to get back them until they were lost against the to Hassayampa, showed its snow- dazzling brightness of the distant capped peaks. snowcaps. Somewhere between here During the return trip there had and those snowcaps Slim Scanlon been moments of conversation be- and Chuck Madden, who had evi- tween the two—a one-sided conversa- dently seen him pick up Williams, tion, mostly. But the sheriff was pa- were waiting. It flattered his vanity, tient. He tried again. “You didn’t but didn’t lessen his concern, that pull off that job alone, Williams. the two had not cared to clash with 26 COMiclooOoks.conm