Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-02-05
W.Mu. RELEASE

Cody leaped down, careened into
the paunchy man, said CURLY, "Grab
the horses heads or they'll be hell
to pay!" He broke into a run, fol-
lowing the way Andy Jenkins had
gone, leaping the fallen tree, stoop-
ing and running on along the road.
Like Long Peters before him he was
ardently if 1nutely praying for even
fleeing glimpse of one of the high
waymen.
The paunchy man-his name was
Bert Nevers-had the leaders by the
bits and was steadying them; man
to take orders. With Ann it was diff
terent; when it came to issuing or
ders she'd rather be issuing them.
Then, ten steps ahead of him,
Cody saw Andy Jenkins. The little
man had dropped his bag and had a
gun in each hand and was blazing
away with both. Then he, too,
dropped, just as Long Peters had
folded up. And then at long last
Cole Cody got his glimpse of the
man with the deep voice, and saw
the bulk of him, looking like squat
giant with the shadows about him.
The target was none too good, yet
there was a murderous devil to shoot
at and Cole Cody set to work with
all the grim joy in life. The bulky
man stood his ground moment, fir
ing back, and Cody heard the hiss
of bullets tanning his ears. Through
out this he was vaguely conscious
of other sounds; voices shouting be-
hind him, AIMS among the others;
the quick beat of a horses hoofs,
pounding up small thunder. There
in swift flight went the other man,
the one who had fired the first shot
from behind a pine tree. But Cody's
present duty lay straight in front,
and he sent bullet after questing
bullet, striving to beat down the
black bulk before him. He heard
also the heavy booming voice yell
ing at his companion, Hey you!
What the" Cody steadied and
fired again, and this time heard a
cry stricken out of his man, and ex-
ulted; he had put at least one shot
home! Then in the general blur he
lost sight of his quarry and heard
his running boots crashing through
the brush, and an instant later heard
the pounding of a second horses
flying hoofs. He emptied his guns
into the dark, sending after them
yell of angry mockery. No further
shots came back. The wild staccato
of running hoofbeats died swiftly
away and for an instant the starry
night was filled with the hush of the
vast wilderness silence.
Then there was another sound;
light running footsteps coming up
behind him, and Ann Lee was clutch
ing his arm.
You're all right? You're not
hurt? Oh, you were splendid!"
run back to the stage, Ann!
We're not sure yet; there may be
more of them"
Head down, he was busy lingering
cartridges up out of his belt, shov-
ing them in hot haste into his two
guns. He stood moment, strain
ing his ears against the silence.
There was not sound that did not
come from behind him, from the
stage, its occupants and nervous
horses. 1t would seem that the par
ty was over. He was sure that one
of the bandits was wounded; posi-
bly, the other, too? He walked to
where the little man, Andy Jenkins,
had fallen.
Jenkins was sitting up, one hand
prop on the ground, the other
pressed against his side. By the
time Cole Cody stopped over him,
the girl was with him.
Hurt bad, Jenkins?" asked Cody.
yep, hurts plenty. And I'm bleed
in buckets of blood. I'm all right
though; lend me hand to stop the
bleedin'"
Cody stopped and picked the lit
tie man up, grading him gently in
his arms.
Get his carpet-bag and his guns"
he told the girl. "Then run ahead
and get lantern lit
1t was the slight and delicate look
ing Miss Jenifer Edwards who was
the greatest help from then on. Aft
er Cody had lifted the little man
into the stage and Ann had brought
the lantern, Aunt Jenifer, with her
skirts tucked up really scandalous-
ly high to be quite out of the way,
and her poke bonnet tossed aside
and her sleeves rolled up on her
slim white arms-and the corners
of her mouth tucked inset to work
methodically and yet swiftly, and
skilfully withal.
Hell be all right" she said calm
ly as she cleared the way for action
and examined and cleansed the
wound. (The paunchy man, Bert
Nevers, had bottle of whisky which
was used copiously both externally
and internally) Get the driver in
here"
Long Peters brought himself in,
cursing savagely at every step and
sounding hale and hearty in the
process. He had been shot through
the gun arm; that was what made
him mad!
Cody and Bert Nevers, using their
hands and the stage ak, cleared
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