2 Gun Western, May 1957 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

PEACEMAKER MEANS POWDERSMOKE | 65 nothing worse than a sore shoulder. As he went down the sidewalk to the hitch pole where he’d racked his pony, Kirk decided there was only one thing good about this: There was a chance he couldn’t find Brannon. Even though Del was probably still around, sticking close to town so he could keep an eye on his kid brother who was staying now with some friends who'd taken him in. There were plenty of places in the tumbled hills where an hombre on the dodge could hole in for a few weeks; it was that kind of country. And if Kirk couldn’t find him, he wouldn’t have to arrest his friend. But then Shipton would railroad Sheriff Cowley out of office at the next election. Oh, hell! Any way you looked at it.... Kirk jerked his pony loose with an angry tugs at the reins. Lifted into the saddle. As he backed into the sun- drenched street and went cantering off through town, his mind was a confusion of bitter thoughts. Down in front of the blacksmith’s shop he caught a glimpse of Ward Shipton’s boy, Larry. He liked Larry. Just a ten-year-old kid full of life and mischief, but he was a definite improvement over his old man. He and Jimmy Brannon played around together a lot, when the banker would let them. The feud between their elders didn’t mean anything to their friendship. Larry waved a hand as Kirk rode past, yelled “Hi, Mr. Kirk!” Lee waved back. Then another boy came running out of the shop. Jimmy Brannon, He gave a whoop and bounded through the dust on strong bare feet. “Gimme a lift, Lee!” he begged. K isk grinned, put down a hand % and hauled Del’s kid brother up with him. Jimmy grabbed the saddle- horn, hung on. “Heard anything from Del?” he piped. “Nope.” “I’ve found out where he’s at. He’s—” The deputy gave a convulsive start. “Wait!” he exclaimed. “Don’t—” “He’s stayin’ in that old mining shack up on Venner Ridge!” In vain, Kirk had tried to stop that rush of words by clapping a hand over Jimmy’s mouth; but he was too slow. The news was out. As he. dropped his hand away, wearily, the boy stared at him in amazement. “Gee! What’s the matter?” He touched his jaw. Kirk must have hurt him. “Sorry Jimmy,” the deputy mut- tered. “Didn’t mean to be rough. You better get down now. I got work to do!” Then he swung the kid down and rode off leaving him standing there in the dust looking after him with wonder written in his features. Kirk’s face was a hard mask as he jogged out of town and took the trail that would lead him to Venner Ridge. What a hell of a way for things to work out! Jimmy had been so happy to tell him where to find Del Brannon, because Kirk was Del’s friend; and Kirk would have to use that knowledge to betray both of them, To bring Del in for the law. There was nothing else he could do about it, of course. He still wore his badge, and he still owed it to Joe Cowley to bring the lawbreaker in and save the election. But why did it have to happen like this! Jimmy, he knew, would never understand. He’d only know that Kirk had betrayed a trust, and was putting his brother away in the hell of bars, and stone, The worst of it was that he had forgotten all about that mining shaéiHe would never have thought of looking there if Jimmy hadn't told him! The Venner mine hadn’t been operating in twenty years, and this was the last remains of the days of its prosperity. This shack, and the pit gouged into the face of the mountain, and the scars of slag and diggings that Nature and time were slowly healing. It was, he realized now, a good place for a desperate man to hide. Del had been there over a week, an nobody the wiser. That is, not until this moment.... Sunset was fading when Lee Kirk came in sight of the abandoned mine. There was, he saw at once, a plume of smoke lifting from. the, hattered