| Show J a 1 Fighting Tenderfoot By William MacLeod Raine Copyright ht by William eod flame Service Bervic c c THE STORY Garrett OHara O'Hara young oung lawyer on hl his hili way to practice at Concho wild western town to Is shot hot at it from ambush by Shep Sanderson who mistakes him for Ju Judge llo Warner Varner whom hom certain cattle Interests wish to prevent pre hol court Barbara Steelman who thought the th shot was dl- dl directed di directed at her warns Garrett notto notto not notto to go to Concho because of oC o the big cattle war Steve Stev Worrell tells Garrett about tho the cattle war between Ingram and Steel Steel- Steelman Steelman Steel man man father tather ot of o Barbara Garrett tells teUs Ingram m ho desires to remain ro- ro re remain main neutral but the latter de declare de- de declares declares clares clare there thero can be b no neutral neutral- neutrality neutrality ity Bob Dob Quantrell young killer for tor Ingram eaves Garrett and an Englishman Smith Smith-Beresford from being hot by Sanderson The three become friends Garrett Gar Gar- Garrett Gar rett rett accidentally witnesses a meeting between Barbara and Ingrom Ingram They are lovers Garrett and the tho Englishman buy a n ranch with Steelman as silent partner Fitch Steelman man kills an Ingram In- In Ingram gram In-gram gram follower A posse pOise po se IncludIng including Including ing Quantrell and Sanderson capture and nd hang JIang Fitch ton Sander Sander Sander- Sanderson Sanderson son starts a n tight fight at the ranch and Garrett Garrott and the Englishman are wounded Ingram and Dar Bar Barbara Bar Barbara bara appear and put an end to the tight fight QU Quantrell changes sides and joins with the two tenderfeet A lull In the cattle war follows CHAPTER VI Continued VI-Continued Continued 7 What did you do asked Garrett not sure how far interest should be pushed The killer looked at nt him out of bleak blak unfathomable eyes eJes I decided El EI Paso Paso aso was no place for me That was all was left to guess what had ma made him so decide They TIley ro rode down n the dusty main street of Concho to the time Steelman store Pat McCarthy came forward forwar 1 to meet them his face fice as usual har hard 1 and wooden Ue lie offered them liquor Quantrell took a drink and departed There was a n Mexican girl In town he wanted to see lie turned before he lie left the office ollice to say any Better netter stick around here till tillI tillI tillI I get back OHara O'Hara I saw Shop Shep head in hea head head- headin 1 in Into the Gold Nugget as we passed I saw him too Bob nob Im I'm not look look- looking ing lag for him My Iy business wont won't tale take me Into time the Gold Nugget Id stay rl right ht In this thus office onice till I get back Wont Won't be gone moren a couple hours Quantrell was plainly a little uneasy about leaving him Dont worry Bob Dob Ill I'll be here when you yon come back his employer promised Into the store presently came Steve Ste Worrall He lie sat down In the office and chatted with McCarthy and OHara O'Hara The proprietor was called out hy by a n clerk At once Worrall freed his Ills mInd You armed OHara O'Hara Yes Any reason for asking me that right now I just came from the Gold Nugget Shep Sanderson an the Texas KId Ind were In there drinkin Id I'd be careful If 1 I were you ou The Kids Kid's been mean ever er since you shot him up the Kid like Got a bad rep Ive I've heard beard say liesa hes he's a killer but yellow ellow May be to that Id I'd layoff lay off him an Shep too Thought Id I'd drop In an tell you Better Detter sta stay here liere In the tile store Wheres Where's Where Bob nob Quantrell I dont don't know There was a n flicker of a sardonic smile In n Garretts Garrett's eyes eves It If that boy Loy wants me to look 1001 after him hed he'd better stay closer Otherwise Other Other- wise I cant can't be responsible for what happens to him Come on Steve Ste Ive I've got cot to go to the post office Worrall Won hesitated for a n fraction of ofa oa a second then rose promptly lIe He had faras faias warned warnell his Ills friend That was as far as he could go On the frontier every everyman everman man Inan must pia play his hits own hand hund Brad Helm the fat tat hotel keeper was as In the post o office III ce lie nodded 1 toward Worrall Worm and got his mall mail and as he passed out said In a w aw wheezy voice audible to e everybody present Theres a n letter for you JOIl at atthe athe the hotel Mr It says Im In on It Passing the Concho Conch house a u minutes te few minutes later luter Steve Ste and Garrett Garrett dropped In to get the letter maneuvered maneu the latter Into a u conico corner r of the room and whispered a Q word o of warning Sleep Shop an time the Texas lexas Kid are i for you They're givin you an hour t to 0 lea leave e town Much uch obliged Ive I've been looking for tor thIs letter Garrett anI and his Ills friend stepped out ou t outto to the tho sidewalk Come on down to the corral with i mt me Steve proposed Not Ot now You come to the Gol d Nugget with me man The long man flung u a quick look loo lo loat L at him ees eyes were wele shining g with excitement Youre Touro not going to the Gold Nug- Nug Nuggett Nug gett are you Jou Thought I would Shep and his are arc sending word out that Ive I've got one hour to leave lea town Ill I'll spend part of that hour at the Gold Goll Nugget Steve Ste reflected that the safe thing would be he to ti tak take Bob Quantrell with them to the thc lie Gold Nu Nugget get lint Hut evI- evI evIdently evidently evi evidently dently hIs Ills friend was not looking forthe for forthe forthe the safe thing tiling All AU right Ill I'll throw In with you youlie he said Mid ald As OHara O'Hara walked up the adobe adobe- lined street beside the lank freighter he felt again that odd lift of the spirit that came to him when dan danger er was near He lIe was going to meet it auda nuda- audaciously foolhardily The roar 10 of or guns guno might at any moment greet erect him On the frontier a man mun did not lightly serve notice that he was looking for forn another Such an announcement meant business A short thickset man came out ot of the In Ingram ram store and down the street toward towan them Out of a pallid face protruding fishy eyes eJes looked at nt ThIn lips opened to sa say insolently So youre you're oure still here Im still here Mr Ir Harvey around 1 I reckon because youve you've had a little luck More thaw than once OHara O'Hara had talked with Steelman about tile lie posse which had attacked tile the lie cabin it was the opinion of ot both of them that hand had been heen back of the sheri sheriff IT his mind the dominating one Ingram had been at the ranch ranell and could not have known what was Intended Not your fault Im I'm strutting around Mr Ir Harvey I acquit you Jou of blame You 11 did hI your our best to make good the promise given I en in your Jour store that I would World not cumber the ground long 1011 O'Hara's eyes bored Into those of or tile the merchant what demanded Say young fellow If you claim claim- claim brushed ru rudely past him There was always a n chance that Har Harvey vey ey might be detaining him in the street while hits his killers were making ready The lanky owner of the Longhorn corral looked at his friend and in that look were both admiration and dis dis- dis tress Great horn toads you sure goo go outa yore ore way to make enemies nar e slut aint t used to being treated a he lie said Just what's you yort play An why geton get on the prod nil all of a sudden 1 This Tills is the way I look at It Steve OHara O'Hara answered his glance sweeping doors and windows as he lie moved forward Its one thin tiling for San Sanderson derson to say hes he's going to get me Its It's another for him to give gi me an hour to leave town lIe thinks Im I'm hiding behind Bob noh Quan trell Quan-trell trell Ive I've got to show him Im I'm not All youve you've Jou e got to do Is to ask me that question when hen I give gl the signal You mean menn time the one you OU was speak speak speak-In In about before we met Harvey Har e Yes You may not get time to ask It but If It you do Ill I'll use It as a 11 cue It If theres there's trouble you ou keep out of It It Keep out of It You sure bump Into fool notions no bo boy When t the lie he guns begin to smoke Ive I've got to join In tosa e to sn sate e nl my own hide bide Ive I a notion they're not going to smoke Here we arc are They turned In at the Gold Nugget Sanderson and the Texas Kid were drinking drinkin while Shep Shop talked lie He boasted of how bad he lie nos was and what lie he meant to do u to OHara O'Hara The words died In his Ills throat as he lie caught sight of the two men who had just entered the place Ills His jaw dropped with astonishment as astonishment as- as aston ton Ish men t OHara O'Hara gave ga Sheps Shep's slow brain no nl notime notime time to guess what this meant Light Light- Lightly Lightly ly Iy the young man walked to the bar barnot not more than five fine feet from his enem enemy lie He ordered liquor which he did not Intend to drink Sa derson glared blared at him uncertain what to do Was as this a plant Had Hadlie lie he sat around drinking and boasting while his Ills foes had bad gathered to am am- ambush ambush bush him If It not why would this tills ten ten- tenderfoot tenderfoot wall walk In so jauntily that lint he had no chance to beat the gunman to the draw The short red headed cowboy known as the Texas lexas Kid passed through much time the same mental reaction but he lie was decidedly more fearful than limn his com coo companion panion h Why had he lie let the drink In I n him talk so loudly Of a n sudden he li e was SOb sober l sick with terror What makes you ou so white Gar Gar- Garrett Garrett rett asked Worrall following In- In In Instructions OUara did not look at hIm film as he answered Ills His gaze was fastened on Sanderson But nut In his voice there was wasa wasa a lilt of triumphant excitement So far his Ills plan had worked perfectly Would It carr carry through Im scared to death Ste Stene Ste e of fwd scalawags who are going to run nn me me out of town One of them Is a big bl bully bull puss fellow ugly as sin a 11 he he- wolf on the howl to hear him tell It The other is a hammered down red red- redheaded headed runt If It you JOU see them let me know so that I I 1 can run Steve O'Hara's mocking eyes ees looked straight Into those of the big bully bull They hey taunted him and defied him and amid made light of his prowess The question growled made matle clear his thoughts Where Wheres Bob Quantrell at Bob Hob had hind better hit time the lie trail said to Worrall orrall These fel- fel fellows fel fellows lows who have me so frightened will drive him out too probably abl Uneasily the bartender polished the top tOI of the counter lie He decided to t drop to the lie door before the shooting began begun A patron of the time house flitted Inconspicuously out of the back door Four cowboys co at a n poker table sus sus- sus suspended their thelI play y and watched the antagonists alertly Sanderson spoke never vehemently I never noyer claimed Id I'd del drive VI him out ou t Never gave c out ont any such word If any any- an anyone anyone one says sas sa's I did hes he's n a liar You can tell Bob not to be lie fright fright- frightened frightened cn ened then Steve Ste OHara O'Hara said easily The scalawags I I told you rou about dont don't Intend to worry hIm Wheres Bob Dob at al 1 reiterated San San- Sanderson San San-derson derson hoarsely hoarse How now should I 1 know Im I'm not lIot his keeper Stick to the business In hand Mr Ir Sanderson If It you OU should meet either of those terrible bad men Ive I've described tell them Im I'm one tenderfoot so scared that Im I'm shaking This goes for you JOll too Mr r Texas Kill Kid Say Imn Im sta staying In town because Im I'm too fright fright- frightened frightened ened to travel tra Ask them not to be too hard on a n poor tenderfoot They was dont don't you reckon the Texas Kid offered byway h by byway way of explanation Better Detter tell them not to scatter jol jokes like that around They might explode and hurt some sonic one Dont Don't your ou think so Ill be lie movin alon along time the lie Texas Kid f said ald from a dl dry throat Dont hurry Stay and anil keep kep Mr Ir Sanderson company lIe He wont won't want to be left leCt here alone Sa Say fellow T lay off me Sander Sanderson son growled If It this heres here's a n frame frame- pile I IN N 1 0 Shep an His Friend Went to Sleep in Smoke up you cant can't start n too soon to suit me I dont don't scare worth n a whoop See Nevertheless Ne his tes eyes left for n a moment to sweep toward the thedoor thedoor thedoor door and window He lIe was plainly worried and anxious to be gone with witha a whole skin You dont don't think Id I'd better get got out of town within the hour say OHara O'Hara asked Already Alrea J time the red headed cowboy was moving toward the back door San Sanderson derson Berson discovered disco himself deserted and began to follow backing away awa slowly Ills right hand hovered IIO near the butt buttof but butof buttof t of a revolver er but he made no motion to draw it It Dont ride me fellow the bull bully warned I can be pushed just so su far Im I'm not scared of you OU not for a 1 hol holy minute Dont Don't you think plink it Ill I'll meet up with you one of these days das an send t you OU to li l h 1 on u a shutter O'Hara's voice olee was is-as a good Imitation n of that of time the Texas Kid Your Youre e just dont don't you OU reckon II Sanderson he be qua quavered ered You or me one when we meet Shep warned Always tomorrow with you Isn't It Well It will be a thousand year Jears s till we meet Mr Ir Sanderson The big man slid out of the back backdoor backdoor door Outside he whirled swiftly atthe at atthe n nime t the t ime same time drag dragging out hf his weapon His e eyes es stabbed here and an d there looking for enemies lie He saw sann nobody but the Texas Kid That war war- warrior warrior riot was legging It on a run for th e safety A Ingram lIar Harveys store anderson slid lid out of the half open halt open back door 1001 of the lie Gold Nu el t there was a long moment of silence Time The stage had been set for red rod tra trag tragedy edy All Ml present felt that It had beer n shaved ell b by a narrow margin Steve Worrall orraH let out a little whoop i of delight Bluffed muffed em cm out by Jinks made made cm ern back ck down n nn an crawl off with their tails between their le legs 9 Oh boy youre you're oure some wolf tamer One of the cowboys boys at the poker table talle slapped another a mighty blow on the back Made Shep Shop take water the tenderfoot did Never saw caw the beat of It Didn't think Shep Shop would of quit for Cor l li-I li li 1 or high water Well WeH you Jou live an learn leam boys He lie swept s off his Ills sombrero In a n bow v to OHara O'Hara Youre one sure enough man bad buster Ill I'll be he doggoned If It Shep Shop didn't tackle moreo moren lie he could ride herd on that time an nn you Jou lookin no more dangerous than a brush hrush rabbit Now limit this crisis was past OHara O'Hara felt a little sick Ick and faint Lets get t he said to his Ids friend Ills desire was ns to get back to the safety of the store excitement Incitement no longer buoyed him up It shook his II is nerve nel to think what a n chance he lie hUll had taken how he lie had staked his life on the audacity of a n swift frontal attack Not for n moment did he fool hImself Into the Ue delusion that he was San San- Sanderson's San San-derson's dersons derson's equal with a six shooter The big man had hind not been afraid of him hut but of Bob Boh Quantrell Qu and his Ills allies Shep had hod been obsessed by hy the sus sus- suspicion suspicion that they were trying to trap him into drawing his weapon In order to give |
