2 Gun Western, May 1957 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

BLOOD ON THE MOON 7 guts to wait him out, with that shot- gun loaded with buckshot. He barely gained the timber of the branch when he heard the faint sound of horses, and a few moments of listening told him that they were > moving away. He went at a trot, circling the scene of the ambush. He had to be sure. The sounds faded to nothing and later when Jud climbed a tall elm, he Saw the big-bellied form of Cugat, - Mounted and leading a second horse, and Busch flanking him crossing a bare knoll a mile away. Even as he watched, they turned into a heavily wooded branch that was a finger of the bigger creek bottom to the south. They could stay under cover there and still see Jud Franklin if he tried to ride on toward town or the Hol- ders, They weren’t through yet, they couldn’t afford to be. They’d have to come back and bury Yewings, destroy any evidence that would require ex- plaining later. They’d have to get Jud Franklin too. Jud cursed in a teeth-gritting fury. He slid down the tree and retrieved his shotgun. Long as there was a chance to shut him up before he could talk, Cugat would not abandon the chase. He had a good thing here as long as there was nothing but vague suspicions against him. Jud hunkered against the tree trunk, trying to make himself consid- er his dilemma with reason, He was six miles from home and a like amount from the Holders farm and about eight from town. He was afoot and time was the one thing he didn’t have to spare. It was almost a sure thing that the Comanches would be raiding, possibly not here, but they could be. He couldn’t risk leaving Lettie alone much longer. It would be midnight before he could get home if he went on, dodging Cugat. If the Indians were raiding, it would bring the rangers out, volun- teers such as Jud himself, who was a member. The sight of a burning home usually brought help fast as men could ride. Especially during full moon.. Jud suddenly came to his feet with decision and went at a long jog trot for home... The sun was still an hour high when Jud Franklin paused in the rim of timber across the cotton patch from his cabin. There was no sound other than the bawling of Lettie’s cow at the barn, and the hungry blat of the calf his usual milking time. Jud moved back into the timber and took the time to circle the ten-acre clearing where the house and barn stcod. The hasty but thorough look showed no new tracks or moccasin tracks. He trotted to the cabin then and hailed softly, calling Lettie’s name, She answered quickly in a shaky voice, opened the door. She was in her nightgown, and it clung wetly to her from perspira- tion. Her dark hair clung in damp ringlets to her head and her brown eyes were very dark. He took her quickly into his arms, holding her gently. She said, “You didn’t get Liz, Jud?” : He shook his head. “No, I run into Cugat and his whiskey peddlers. Had a brush with them. They killed the mare. I couldn’t risk leaving you alone, Lettie. After that load of whiskey, the Indians will be out too. I'll try something else.” She stirred uneasily in his arms and looked at him, her eyes a little scared. “There isn’t much time, Jud. The pains have been coming closer together. You'll have to help me yourself. We'll make it all right.” “You get back to bed, honey,” he said and his voice trembled a little. She squeezed his arms. “I’m not afraid, Jud, not with you here now.” S SHE GOT back into bed, he lunged blindly for the kitchen, and it took only a moment for him to rake a half bucketful of coals from the stove then hastily chunk it full of wood again. He went on a run for the barn. He thought desperately, what could have happened to Liz Holder? She ought to’ve been here today, to stay with Lettie just in case... Jud barely glanced at the new log barn, not a year old yet, and stuffed with sorghum hay for the cow this winter. That sorghum was full of juice and would make one devil of a smoke... They could see it all the way to Buckley Cornors. They, could fee. At