Pulp - Popular Western.41.11.Riders of the Rain - Allan R. Bosworth (pdf)

by Monte Herridge

  three to one—and that one wounded. No! the cashier. I didn’t have a gun. This is Pete Three to two. When the shooting starts, I’ll be Yeager’s gun I’ve got now, Benson. Before he at Bob’s side.”

  died, he told me the boss of this outfit was But he sprang from the loft like a lean,

  comin’ here tonight.”

  lithe panther. She jumped, startled, as his dark Benson sneered. “Mighty long speech,

  shape shot down. He landed on the balls of his Wiley. But yah won’t live to tell it to nobody feet, with a jingle of spurs, in the center of the else. And I can be the man who trailed the

  room.

  gang here and wiped; ’em out—sabe? Turn

  “Reach high!” he ordered coolly.

  towards the door, Wiley!”

  Benson ripped out a curse. Donna;

  The cowboy was gathering his muscles

  jerking to her hands and knees at the rim of for a spring. Donna heard his boot heels click the loft, could see only an indistinct mass as on the floor. She could see Benson’s gun,

  the three men whirled, snarling. Then gun-

  smoke still wisping from its muzzle.

  flame streaked to meet gun-flame, in a livid, The crack of the .38 sounded distant.

  crazy quilt pattern spread beneath her.

  But its kick against the heel of her palm was a Somebody fell at the first hammering

  comforting thing. She fired again.

  roar. It wasn’t Bob Wiley. His gun thundered There was a gun blazing below, but the

  again and again. Donna could see Benson

  bullet ripped harmlessly into the warped

  backing into the shed, taking crouching shelter flooring. Dane Benson cried out, more in

  behind the door jamb, blazing back at the man surprise than pain, and fell across the smoking she loved, and the first man who had fallen weapon.

  sprawled across the table.

  Donna was halfway down the ladder

  There was another crash, a queer, before the crash of his heavy body had ceased gurgling cough. The other man’s shoulders hit echoing in the room. Bob Wiley caught her

  the wall, and his boots slid out from beneath and held her close.

  his wilting body.

  “Yuh didn’t kill him, honey!” he

  Wiley’s gun clicked, empty, and soothed. “He’ll live to stand trial. Don’t—

  Benson’s bulk filled the doorway. The don’t cry!”

  dimness of the room below where blue

  powder smoke swirled was terrifying.

  THE tears came, but she was Rufe King’s

  “So it’s you, Wiley!” gritted the B Bar

  daughter, and they were really tears of

  owner. “Here’s where yuh sell out cheap. Like happiness.

  Riders of the Rain

  11

  There would be no arrest now for the

  came on here—and the water came down in

  tall handsome rider who was going to settle the draw after my hoss strayed to the other down.

  side. You know the rest.”

  “Here’s the bank money, Bob,” she

  “Yes,” said Donna. “I know the rest up

  said. “I’m sorry I ever distrusted you. I might to now. But after this—what?”

  have known all along that you were innocent.”

  He kissed her. “Yuh’re goin’ to be

  “Shucks, nobody could blame yuh for

  rich, sweetheart, when yuh find the silver

  thinkin’ I was one of the gang,” he said. “They vein. And I’m so poor, I—”

  didn’t want to wait, because somebody else

  Donna put a finger across his lips.

  might come in the bank. So they pulled the job

  “Imagine,” she whispered, “finding

  with me there. And Yeager woulda shot me,

  something that’s been around a long time and too, but Benson yelled at him. So I tailed ’em was never discovered! Something a lot more

  out of there—and got shot, anyway. I didn’t precious than silver!” And Bob Wiley, kissing have enough reputation to try and explain to her again, knew just what she meant.

  the sheriff. Then I went after Yeager, and