Fifteen Western Tales, March 1954 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

GUNMAN’S WAY 27 gently put his hand on Marie’s shoulder. He looked like a man who had lost an exhausting struggle. “We'd better get back to Anchor now, honey.” He took Marie’s arm and looked at Fardee from expressionless’ eyes. “I'll see you in the morning,” he said. Dale Pardee shot Ed Gilcher the next day shortly after Fhup, and it was a long time before anyone got the straight of what happened. It was mid-morning when Pardee came into Singletree with his big sorrel gelding carrying double. He sat far back on the cantle, his lean face lumpy and worried. Ed Gilcher was seated in front of him with most of his weight braced against Pardee’s chest. The rancher’s face was pale and drawn. He had a blood-stained neckerchief wrapped around his right arm- pit, Pardee pulled to a halt in front of Doc Kelton’s office and helped Gilcher to the ground. When they came outside twenty minutes later they conducted themselves like strangers. Gilcher’s shirt was buttoned over his right arm, but a wad of white bandage was visible around the collar. He stepped onto the boardwalk and turned left toward the livery stable, ignoring Pardee. But Sheriff Nate Butterworth had seen them arrive and he was waiting for them. He rose from the shade of the hotel awning next door and blocked Gilcher’s path. “Looks like there’s been some sort of difficulty, Ed,’’ he said politely. ‘“‘Maybe you ought to tell me about it.” Gilcher shook his head and started to move on, but Pardee provided the answer. - He turned away from his horse and met the gangling sheriff’s curious stare. “I shot him,” he admitted. “Tt’s none of your affair, Nate, said gruffly. “I'll handle it.”’ Nate Butterworth hooked his thumbs in his leather galluses and squinted his faded eyes at Pardee. “I saw what happened at Stacy’s barn and didn’t need to ask ques- ”’ Gilcher tions. But I don’t like this, Pardee. You’ve admitted shooting Ed and you'll need some good reasons to keep me from locking you up.” Pardee gave Gilcher a long look, his manner somewhat apologetic, but the rancher turned his face away to stare stonily at the hotel door. ‘““T was told from the beginning Gilcher would make trouble for me,’ Pardee be- gan slowly, ‘‘and when he promised to pay ' me a visit at daybreak I was up on the ridge watching for him. At sunrise I heard cattle moving toward. the creek, and then they busted out into the open and headed my way. Gilcher was alone. The cows were wearing Double O brands—my brand —and Gilcher started hazing them onto my land. You see how it looked to me.”’ The sheriff nodded. He ‘feanes over his shoulder at Gilcher, and then faced Pardee again. “A man would likely think Gilcher was trying to frame you with a rustling charge. That what you figured?” Pardee shifted suncomfortably. He ran his thumbs along his shell belt and stared at the ground. “I called out to Gilcher. Comicbooks sco