Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE STRAY-MAN. heeded. The boy, though, aware of the danger to his pet, started forward, shriek- ing profanely. A man in the group. seized him and drew him back. The big man lowered the dog until the animal was dangling close to the ground with its legs wildly threshing. It was the man’s intention to shoot the dog through the head, for the heavy pistol grew rigid - in his hand, the muzzle close to the ani- mal’s ear. And then, just when it seemed that the deed was about to be consummated, a cold veice rose above the dog’s now terrified snarls: ’ “Tt ain’t such a hell of a lot of fun, after all, is it?” There was a pause; the man holding the dog looked up to see a tawny giant within half a dozen steps of him, watching him ‘“‘T reckon that ends this deal,” the giant went- on. “It’s your own fault. You deviled him into bitin’ you, an’ you ain’t goin’ to kill him. Drop him!” The man’s grip on the dog’s collar loos- ened. He did not seem to be aware of the action. The. dog, striking the ground, whirled savagely at his tormentor, slashed at the boot nearest him, failed to penetrate _the tough leather; and then scampered to his owner, yelping delightedly. But the man paid no attention to boy or dog. He was looking at the man who had interfered—watching him with eyes that told of mental uneasiness. ‘Who in hell are you?” he demanded. Shorty grinned coldly, started, and looked keenly at the other. ‘ I camped last night at Kelso’s water-hole, Blandell. Do you recken you can remember anythin’ that took place that far back?” Blandell was rigid. There was a light in his eyes which told that he now recognized Shorty. There was hate in his eyes, too. His gaze roved over Shorty; there was a ‘perceptible quickening of his eyes and a slight movement of his muscles as he noted that Shorty’s guns were in their holsters. His lips curved; he stuck his chin out. “At the Kelso water-hole—er? Well— here’s what you’ve got comin’ for—” He swung his pistol-hand upward. With 425 the movement he dragged at the trigger. He had meant to shoot from the hip, and he had pulled his elbow back withthe up- ward movement. But before the weapon reached the level Blandell wished it to at- tain, a heavy boot struck him in the stom- ach. The gun went off as_ Blandell deubled forward, the bullet splaying the hard sand at his feet, and Blandell lurched, grunting with pain, into a vicious left swing that caught aD full on the point of the — jaw. He was tumbled backward from the force of the blow and sat down heavily, the gun falling from his loosened fingers while he swayed back and ferth, gasping for breath. After the blow Sherty had meved quick- ly. Aware that Blandell must have friends in the group, he had leaped teward the man’s gun, drawing his own as he did. so. A swift kick sent Blandell’s weapen out of reach; and Shorty wheeled, his muscles tensed, alert, to face the ether men by the raul. They were all on their feet. Shorty had worked so rapidly that the men were taken by surprise; but when Shorty faced them, his two guns stiff in his hands, two or three of the men were reaching toward their holsters. Shorty slowly backed teward the front of the saloon, his guns menacing all of the _men; his eyes blazing the deadliness of his intentions. He had reached the froiit of the saloon, where he could not be attacked from the rear, when he heard a voice, coldly drawl- ing: ‘* Easy there, old-timer. There ain’t no- body goin’ to herd-ride you. Take care of the big guy an’ I’ll look after the rest of these tin-horns.”’ - Shorty’s quick glance went to the street. He saw his guest at breakfast astride a black horse that stood in the street be- yond the hitching-rail. The black horse was facing Shorty and the group of men. . . His rider, too, was facing Shorty and the others, and a heavy pistol in each of his hands indicated that he was prepared to back his words with action. There was a humorous, twisting smile on COL Elooolkks.conm