Action-Packed Western, May 1957 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

LOST RANGE 7) fee mingled with the sweetness of fresh-baked rolls. “Where’s Rondo?” Mrs. Brant asked from the stove. “Coming. Dish it up.” But Rondo didn’t come. When Lavery went looking for him, he found a dirty envelope nailed to the top rail of the corral. In it was the deed to Lazy Y, made out to James Lavery. And a dogeared scrap of paper scrib- bled in pencil. “T ain’t much of a hand for cows.” it said. “Reckon I'll push on. Just save a bunk in case I ever stop by.” He let the paper fall from his fingers. Looking across the range, he could see a distant rider heading into the fading sunset. Lavery turned back, not just sure what he felt, to find that Gennie had come up beside him. “Gone?” Lavery nodded. He bent over to pick up the piece of paper. It had fallen with the message side down. On the other side was written in ink: This will introduce James Lavery Triggers, Special Agent for the Cattlemen’s Pro- tective Society.” ‘3 Tophand Novelets ———_ —— SHOOT-OUT AT TINHORN JUSTICE FOR TWO THE CORPSE SAYS “WELCOME!” It was signed and dated six months earlier. And someone had run a pen- cilled line through the name and printed in bold capitals “Rondo.” Gennie’s hand went to his. It felt warm and understandable. “Is some- thing wrong, Jim?” she asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” “There aren’t any ghosts, Gennie. It just sometimes seems so.” He crumpled up the paper in his big hand. He figured that was what Rondo would want. “I was thinking,” he went on, “Rondo could have been my father. He was about the right age. His first two names were the same as mine.” “You look like him a little.” “It’s a funny thing to think,” he said slowly. “But it would explain a lot. That’s the ghost I was seeing, Gennie. The ghost of the father I never knew.” He glanced out over the range again. There was no longer any sign of the rider. The sun had gone down, leaving only a soft glow on the horizon. He pressed Gennie’s hand gently. Together they walked back to the ranch none in the poets. wien +e 4 by Ruel McDaniel by Lauran Paine by Ed Keller ave featured in the May | WESTERN | ACTION | Now on sale at all stands ——————e ane eee —— Scmiee ota armenter a Se Gomichbooks Se ee ——— = ag S o— ~ 4% a e-* =) (E(0)