AHMM, January-February 2008
Page 30
"It's over, Mr. Callaghan. He's quite unconscious."
Corey looked at Teller's blood-covered face, then dropped him in shock. “Hell,” he growled, “I hope I didn't kill him."
"He'll be all right,” Patrick predicted. “That was some mighty fine punching you just did. You're left is really improving since you got injured."
As the tension of the moment eased, Corey found a laugh welling up inside of him. “You know me, Patrick. I like an opportunity to work with my hands."
"A mighty fine job, gentlemen,” Butler said, clapping his arms across Corey and Patrick's shoulders.
"Corey, look out!"
Miss Parson's warning snapped Corey's attention away from Butler in search of the danger. Caruthers was outside the saloon picking up Butler's forgotten shotgun. A nasty grin twisted his face as he took aim at the three men. “Now that Teller's done, I don't want any problems with my money,” he said.
Corey shoved Patrick and Butler away from him, but he knew he was too late.
A hollow click reverberated through the air.
For a moment everyone stood in silence, then Corey took a deep breath, stepped forward, took the shotgun out of Caruthers's hands, and hit the man with everything he had.
"I thought,” Miss Parson said, “that only one shell fired when Mr. Butler dropped the gun."
"Me too,” Corey agreed. “I guess we were lucky, because Caruthers had us."
Butler slapped himself on the forehead. “There was only one shell,” he said. “I plumb forgot to reload after I had to shoot poor Socks."
* * * *
"So now that they are tied up,” Miss Parson said, “you can finish your work on the new axle. Then in the morning you and Mr. Butler can go down to the stage, repair it, and drive it back up here. Mr. Clifford isn't able to walk, and we'd have all sorts of problems moving the prisoners by foot."
"You're sure you'll be all right without us?” Corey asked.
"Of course, I'm sure,” Miss Parson said. “Mr. O'Sullivan and I will have the rifle and shotgun and the prisoners will be bound. We'll be just fine while we wait for you."
"All right, then,” Corey agreed, then changed the subject, watching closely for her reaction. “I noticed you used my given name when you thought Caruthers was going to kill us."
Miss Parson smiled. “Why, I don't know what you mean, Mr. Callaghan."
"I liked it,” Corey said. “You're welcome to call me Corey anytime you like."
"Thank you for the courtesy, but I have my reputation to think about. Gambling and traveling with two boxers already strains it quite a lot."
"Perhaps just here in private, then,” Corey suggested.
"Maybe this once, Corey, maybe this once."
Copyright (c) 2007 Gilbert M. Stack
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Department: COMING IN MARCH 2008
THE KILLING FARM by Doug Allyn
SET ‘EM UP, JOE by David Edgerly Gates
THE ROAD TO THE AIRPORT by Donna Thorland
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ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE (ISSN:0002-5224), Vol. 53, Nos. 1 and 2, January/February, 2008. Published monthly except for combined January/February and July/August double issues by Dell Magazines, a division of Crosstown Publications. Annual subscription $43.90 in the U.S.A. and possessions, $53.90 elsewhere, payable in advance in U.S. funds (GST included in Canada). Subscription orders and correspondence regarding subscriptions should be sent to 6 Prowitt Street, Norwalk, CT 06855. Or, to subscribe, call 1-800-220-7443. Editorial Offices: 475 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016. Executive Offices: 6 Prowitt Street, Norwalk, CT 06855. Periodical postage paid at Norwalk, CT, and additional mailing offices. (c) 2007 by Dell Magazines, a division of Crosstown Publications, all rights reserved. Dell is a trademark registered in the U.S. Patent Office. The stories in this magazine are all fictitious, and any resemblance between the characters in them and actual persons is completely coincidental. Reproduction or use, in any manner, of editorial or pictorial content without express written permission is prohibited. Submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. POSTMASTER: Send Change of Address to Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, 6 Prowitt Street, Norwalk, CT 06855. In Canada return to Quebecor St. Jean, 800 Blvd. Industrial, St. Jean, Quebec J3B 8G4. GST #R123054108.
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