2 Gun Western, May 1957 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

60 der and show you what I’ve been doing with the place.” HEY WERE gone then, leaving him at the table, moving gracious- ly, nodding to men who had been his father’s enemies as they approached the carpeted stairway. Will crossed through the lobby in hurried strides, slamming the glass-paneled door be- hind him and facing into the chill blast of the rain before he remem- bered the worn slicker he’d left in- side. He had no place to go, and as he stepped off the newly laid brick walk into the mud of the street he remem- bered he’d intended getting some money when he saw Griffith. He was dead broke and for a moment he stopped there in the street in the mud and driving rain. He laughed then, a Short, deliberate laugh that was with- out humor. He saw the livery stable Sign further down and turned in that direction, the sound of his footsteps coming in sharp, sucking cadence as he walked. Morning was but a continuation of the former day’s sodden, grey wet- hess. At the stable, little Vince John- - Son said nothing about his sleeping in the loft of the building, his sharp eyes flickering once at the gun on Will's thigh and going away as though he’d seen nothing. And Mur- phy too, in the hash-house he owned, had let his glance run along down the counter after one brief look. Will was half-way through the eggs and ham when Matt Gorman came in and let his weight down on the stool beside him and when he saw that even Lou Durant’s closest henchman was un- armed, he laughed abruptly and jerked his head at the balding man behind the counter. “Hey, Murph, better set out a cup of tea for the company.” But the thing was getting under his skin and as neither man laughed he realized it suddenly, pulling down on the resent- ment that was building inside, turn- ing back to the meal before him. “You're right, Will,” the big red haired man said slowly. “Things’ve changed more than somewhat.” He signaled for coffee. “But. you’ll prob- ably find out before long that there’s — ss" — + - 2-GUN WESTERN other ways to skin a cat than by shooting his hide off with forty-four slugs.” Will’s glance pinned the man’s face. “You’re the second man to tell me that since I hit town, Matt, But from the other side of the fence. It couldn’t be that I’ve got myself a rep, could it?” There was sudden chal- lenge in his tone. “Or is it some- body’s advantage that I...” He broke off as the possibility of the thought occurred. “Durant send you?” he de- manded. Gorman’s glance was steady in the rough squareness of his face. “Lou said if I saw you to tell you he’d like a few words with you. Guess he kind of expected you to drop by the Star last night. That’s all, Will.” The man paused a moment, deliberately. “Ex- cept that if I was you, I’d take my two-bit’s worth when they give it to me, and keep right on riding. There’s been a new hand dealt around, Will, and I don’t think there’s any chairs open for an hombre that fills his straights with lead!” E THOUGHT about the man’s words as he knocked on the door of Durant’s room. He was a crazy fool, he told himself harshly, to even see Durant. But his curiosity was up and resentment had flared almost to anger when he’d met Rufe Williams and Ben Dawson on the street and the two ranchers had given him but a brief nod as they’d passed. Damn it all, they’d been shoulder to shoul- der with him and his old man in the fight against the Land Company! In fact, it had been as much for them as for himself that he’d been forced into facing Durant and his two gun- nies, that day! The very shooting that seemed to be outlawing him now had climaxed the difficulties between them and the nesters and Land Com- pany under Durant! He’d been about to knock again when the door opened on Lou Du- rant’s smiling face. And still the mockery was there in the man’s eyes as he read the anger in Will. “Come in, Come in, Will. Glad you dropped around.” The man’s courtesy was a goad. “You know Judge Max- well.” Maxwell was in a straight- COMMEOOXS com