2 Gun Western, May 1957 — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

76 darkness was ripped by spurts of powder flame. Alec saw Schultz and his mount go down. He saw Lieuten- ant Macklin hit again, but regain his balance and ride on. Alec felt a ham- mer blow at his left side.... Be AT Camp Grant, days later, Trooper Alec Small and Lieuten- ant Macklin lay abed recovering from their wounds. Time was heavy on their hands, and in Alec’s mind was a nagging guilt. There was no word of the bronc Apache band. B troop had come in to Grant with the two wounded men, and two other troopers had been sent out, If more men died, Alec knew the blame would be upon his_ head. Should Orfano lead the band in other fights against the Army, Alec Small would have made an even greater mistake than that at Red Rock. The post surgeon, Major Anders, came in. He said to Lieutenant Mack- lin, “Word just arrived from the San Carlos agency. Orfano’s band came in last night. Funny, but those Apaches camc in of their own accord.”” A sign of relief escaped Alec DANTE FALOO A faint gleam of the old fighting Spirit came into the sheriff's eyes. “Oh I reckon I used a killer’s name a bit free but look the good it brought us. Blow-hard Simpson near talked himself to death. At any rate, I'll bet he does his bleeding in a new town.” — ' I tried to finish my supper, but I just didn’t have any appetite. “What's the matter, Steve?” Mr. Avery asked, ¢“You worried ‘bout something?” I wasn’t quite sure myself. “I guess I wanted to meet Dante,” PEACEMAKER MEANS POWDERSMOKE I’m at it I guess I owe an apology for the things I’ve been saying about the Sheriff’s office. All Joe Cowley needs’ is money enough to hire more depu- ties like Lee Kirk. Maybe something can be done about that, too!” Kirk looked past the banker then, caught the sheriff’s eye. Grinned a_ -: = 2-GUN WESTERN Small, Major Anders stared at him. Lieutenant Macklin turned his head with an effort and looked across at Alec. “You said they’d come in,’ Mack- lin said. “You told Captain Hammond that when we broke out of the trap and reached the troop. How... ?” Alec remembered. He had been full of pain and nearly unconscious at the time, and Captain Hammond and some others had laughed....Now he looked at Major Anders, and asked, “Sir, did Orfano himself come in?” The surgeon shook his head, and Macklin said, “You forget, Small. Orfano’s dead.” There was an odd look in the lieu- tenant’s eyes. He knew. Alec looked away. But the guilt was gone from his mind. The risk he had taken with Orfano proved in part, at least to him and perhaps to Lieutenant Mack- lin, that an Indian could be reasoned with—and if there were men who still laughed about the Red Rock mistake, the laughter would no longer hurt. Alec went back to watching the lizard on the ceiling, and he was smiling ®END (Cont'd from page 46) I said at last. “I don’t even know what he looks like.” Sheriff Tow squinted his eyes at me as he put a cigar in his mouth. “Sort of glad you didn’t, Steve,” he said as he bit off the end. “Three years in prison can change a man a lot. You might have been disap- pointed. Keep what ideas you have. They’re probably pretty close. After all, a man with the name Dante Faloo should be what you imagine him.” I suppose that’s right because now, whenever I think back— Dante Faloo! I can just see him. @END (Cont’d from page 70) little, and saw Cowley grin back. Funny, he thought, how things can change all in a moment. How Del Brannon was square with the world, and the sheriff's problem settled. It had only taken a second or two of nerve and gunflame to do all that! @END COMMICGOOOKS=COMM