"Y-e-e-e-o-w!" The sound blared out like the shrill of doom. The
officer's six-shooter thudded upon the ground, his hands grasped the
horn of the saddle, his spurs dug into his horse's flanks and sent the
animal crashing between the girl and Endicott and caused Purdy's horse
to tear loose from the half-breed's saddle-horn.
"Stand 'em off, Bat!" shrieked the deputy as he shot past, "I'm a-goin'
fer help!" and away he tore, leaning far over his horse's neck, with
Purdy's horse, the stirrups lashing his sides, dashing madly in his
wake.
A moment later Tex pushed his mount into the trail where the girl,
drawn close to Endicott, waited in fearful expectation. The half-breed
met him with a grin.
Rapidly, with many ejaculations interspersing explosive volleys of
half-intelligible words, Bat acquainted the Texan with the progress of
events. The cowpuncher listened without comment until the other had
finished. Then he turned to Endicott.
"Where'd you learn to shoot?" he asked abruptly.
"I never learned. Until tonight I never had a pistol in my hand."
"You done damned well--to start out with," commented the Texan dryly.
"But, oh, it's horrible!" sobbed the girl, "and it's all my fault!"
"I reckon that's right. It looks like a bad mix-up all around."
"Oh, why didn't you tell me what a _beast_ he was? You knew all the
time.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123