Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-04-11
ZMY Of Revenge :.
J A CKS 90 N.

knocked him head over heels into thu
other member of the trio, who also was
on his feet now. Even as the two
went sprawling onto the floor, Valdez
swung around, and two long-barreleo
six-guns were in his hands. There was
roaring burst of flame from the
muzzle of each gun, and Flash Con-
roy's gun flew from his hand. He made
one small flicker of movement as If to
shake the derringer up his sleeve down
into his hand, but stopped on the
instant as he looked into the deadly
bores of Valdez guns.
Michael Valdez swiftly backed away
then, his guns moving in sweeping arcs
as he covered not only Flash Conroy
but all the other occupants of the
Palace who were directly before him.
A curious smile creased the corners of
his eyes and mouth as those eyes kept
each man present in his range of vision,
as though his gaze were centered on
each one alone.
There are plenty of rewards on my
head J" he tainted. Perhaps some of
you brave men who work for Flash
Conroy would like to take chance on
collecting them If you do, come shoot
ing-I'm warning you I'd be glad of
the chancellor this whole place has
sort of bad smell to it. l am aiming
to air it out little before l leave"
Valdez appeared not to see Flash
Conroy's all but imperceptible nod
toward the bar. But split second
later, when the double-barreled shotgun
came up over the mahogany, he swiveled
on the balls of his feet. His single gun
roared, and the bartender who had
obeyed his boss banged against the bar
mirror, his hands plastered helplessly
over his stomach.
Being shot in the middle is plumb
painful business, know" Valdez
drawled, "but it's no more than some of
you hombres deserve. l hope you take
the warning"
His lips curled in a curious whistle,
and the next moment Ell Cielo was
pushing his way through the swing
1oor. With his gun still covering the
crowd, methodically Valdez tapped the
ill behind the bar, then stalked over
Ind relieved Conroy of the cash the
gambler had on him.
Though apparently unconcerned, he
vas fully conscious of the glowering
ooks, the muttered curses that followed
i'm as he moved swiftly. Yet he was
ully confident that no man there would
enture to match his gun skill with his
wn, not after the exhibition of fast
hooting he had just displayed. More
yer, none of them had ever seen Con-
oy bested before. The gamblers gun
peed had been supposed to be unbeat-
BILE, unchallenged.
At last, while silence held the room,
'aldez backed toward the door, his
ockets bullying with loot. Ell Cielo
ollowed him.
I'm giving the whole lot of you
xactly ninety seconds to get out of
ere!' he snapped. "This hole of Satan
going to be burned to the ground.
r"-he shot one glance at Flash Con-
'y-"perhaps if you will say to me
lie name of your big boss so that 1 ;
ay tell it to Ell CabalIero Roio, I Y
light let you off-to some extent. I
hough Madre de Diosi What Ell Ca {
lllero Rojo will say to that l don't
howl"
The gamblers pasty face took on the {
lor of death.
You're crazy!" he shouted. There
no" Z
well, what about that information .
want?" Valdez snarled. "Thaf ninety :
conds are being licked away with q
eat speed"