Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-03-05
W.Nu. RELEASE

effect of the blow that Cal was lifted
from his feet and flung backward,
landing in the yard from which he
had just come, fiat on his back. And
still a stormy Cole Cody stormed
along, giving next his full attention,
asking no questions, to Calls COM
panion, Rance Waldron. Rance, too,
went for his gun, and small good it
did him, for in his case as in Calls
Cody's hand seemed to be quicker
than the eye. At any rate the same
fist, looking now to Ann Lee like a
rock bound to the end of a war
club, accomplished for Rance Wal
dron what it had already done for
Cal Roundtree, with but slight va
ration: the bronze knuckles landed
with a sound compounded of thud-
ding and squishing effects upon
RANGES nose, and blood spouted,
and Rance tottered backward,
trlpped over Calls earthbound body,
and went down ANONYMOUSLY.
But Cody's gun was in his hand,
its blunt, ugly nose turned Calls
way.
Better drop it, feller," said Cole
Cody, sounding listless and not
greatly concerned. He sat down as
though making himself thoroughly a,
home. might blister your fingers"
Look here, you," said Cal Round
tree, his hand hanging down, the
muzzle OF his gun brushing his boot
top. Seems as though"
He stopped short, biting his words
off clean. He saw that the man
Longing in the kitchen chair had
turned white under his heavy tan,
and he saw something else. He saw
a tiny red pool on the floor close
to one OF the chair legs, and noticed
the spaced drops falling down into
it.
Cal said, 'I'm putting my gun
away, stranger; all right?" and hol-
stored it with Cody watching him
narrowly.
Thea he stepped up close to Cody
and stood looking down at him.
Hurt bad?" he asked.
NO." said Cody.
Cal stopped down and took his gun
away from him.
Ann Lee, her eyes enormous, hot
spots OF red on her burning cheeks,
was on her feet again and staring
at the man who had just used her
SO, and She, too, at last saw the
Whiteness through his bronze, and
the slowly dripping blood into the
tiny glistening pool.
Il shot him and l am glad!" she
| eXulted.
Aunt Jenifer came to Cal Round
trees side, bending over the man in
the chair.
children shouldn't be allowed to
play with shooting irons" said Aunt
Jenfer mildly. They're always
getting hurt. If you boys, Mr..
Roundtree, will get Mr.. Bill Cole
Cody to a bed, and if you'll bring
me some boiled water and a clean
sheet or pillow case, we'll try to
mend him up. I don't think"
Mr.. Who?" demanded Cal
Roundtree. Who'd you say he is?"
He calls himself Cody, William
Cole Cody, and"
Roundtree ran his fingers through
his hair. then along the rim of an
aching jaw. He frowned down at
young Cody. "You Cole Cody?" he
demanded.
Cole Cody, a trifle dizzy and sick
ish, demanded,
might l ask if it's any business
of yours? I'm not asking your pedi-
gree, am I? Suppose you leave me
| alone"
You're nice kid, like hornet"
Cal snorted. But l got to know.
Unless you're ashamed of yourself,
and reckon you ought TO be on gen.
eral principles, you tell me whether
you're William Cole Cody or not!"
Cody regarded him speculatively.
Not bad sort. it struck him, this
nosy Individual. Further, he was
in no mood for a lot of empty jab-
Der. Nor had he any reason to deny
himself. So he said CURLY,
me, I'm Cole Cody William Cole
Cody. Just Cody for short. Now
what? Want to do anything about
it,"
Cal Roundtree stood rubbing his
bruised jaw.
Eyes, l do" he said, having duly
meditated. 1.-Two things I want to
get your shirt off, see how bad you're
hurt and mend you up again. That's
one thing. The other is, l want to
make you welcome to the King Cole
Ranch. Old Early Bill told me to
watch out for you, to treat you like
home folks. That's two things. May
be later on we can make it three:
when you're all well again, I'd like
powerful well to take you out be-
hind the barn and beat you clean to
DEATH"
He stuck his hand out
''Shake, Cody" he said. "Old
Early Bill says so. You're well
come; like the old Spanish used to
say, the place is yours"
Cody looked up at him and a slow
smile twitched at his lips and
warmed his eyes, and his hand
went out to find and clasp Cal
Roundtree's. And Ann Lee stared