*There he is, Willyl" screeched the chubby clerk Gus Schubert, pointing down at the running deputy.
Swinging up the Colt he held, Willy Wallenheim fired. Before Waco could realise his error of tactics and yell a warning, he heard the bullet cut through the air over his head. Glaring upwards, he saw Schubert also taking aim at him and wasted no time in trying to explain matters to the clerks. The previous Simday, before Babsy and Ginger caused his return to the oflBce, Waco had seen the two clerks shooting in a competition. Although they did not measm-e up to the exacting standards of a Western-trained gim-fighter, each had proved himseH more than adequate at target shooting over sights. Enough for Waco to realise that he must take no chances with them.
Ahead rose the big horse-trough, filled with water and offering the kind of solid shelter his heart desired at that moment. With another bullet making its eerie 'splatl' soimd as it winged by his head, Waco dived across the trough and landed in the welcome blackness beyond it. That he came down in an area left permanently wet and muddy did little to cool the anger he felt at the clerks' actions. From the darkness where the fleeing men had disappeared came the creaking of saddle leather as they mounted waiting horses.
"Heyr yelled Waco, starting to rise.
Instantly Wallenheim's revolver cracked, water erupted from the siuface of the trough and the bullet rapped on the
side, its progress so slowed by the liquid contents that it could not bre^ mrough. However the nearness of the bullet and the fact that Schubert had taken aim caused Waco to duck down faster than he came up. Under different conditions he could have dealt with the pair. Standing in front of the window, they offered a perfect target in its rectangle of hght. Unfortunately they were on the side of the law and acting in ignorance. Otherwise Waco could have been throvdng lead their way instead of taking cover. Flattened on the muddy ground, the fuming youngster heard the sound of ' hooves drumming away and knew the other two men had escaped. Then me sound of shouts reached his ears, followed by feet running in his direction.
Two familiar shapes appeared cautiously around the ri^ht hand comer of the building, while a third came into sight at the left.
''Law here!'* yelled the Ysabel Kid. ''Hold up on that shoot-ing.*-
"One of 'em's behind the horse-troughl** Wallenheim shouted back in a voice pitched high with exdt^nent.
Instantly Mark Counter and the Kid faced the required direction, Winchester and Colt aiming at the trough as they moved apart to offer a smaller target along with the problem of whom to shoot at first. At the other end of the building. Dusty Fog advanced watchfully to where he could see and shoot at me rear of the trough should that prove necessary.
"Come on out with your hands showing and emptyl** Mark bellowed, wanting to hold their man's attention and keep him from noticing Dusty.
*Tm comingl" Waco shouted back. "Just make sure them two loco hoboes up there don't shoot me in the head when I get up."
At any other time the youngster might have enjoyed the consternation his voice caused. He saw Mark and the Kid stiffen in their tracks and heard a startled gasp from the window. Looking up, he saw the clerks hurriedly jerk back into the room and started to rise.
"Is that you, boy?" Mark asked.
Tfou're expecting maybe the whole blasted Dick Dublin gang?" the furious youngster replied, standing erect. "God damn it. Them two son-of-a-bitching bastards were like to kill me and let the real owlhoots get clear away."
Before any more could be said, the office door flew open and the two clerks clattered down the stairs.
"Have you got him. Kid?" Schubert asking, brandishing his revolver in an alarming manner.
'*We sure have," agreed the Kid. **And a right desperate villain he is.**
Clearly the clerks had been hoping that their ears and eyes had played tricks on them from the window. Their eyes went to where Waco stood behind the trough and noticed Dusty coming up behind the yoimgster.
**It is you, Waco,** Wallenheim gasped.
Tve knowed that all along,*" fiie youngster answered bitterly.
**We didn't know!" Wallenheim croaked, suddenly aware of how close he had come to making a terrible mistake. *Tou came nmning by just as we opened the window and we thought you must be one of the robbers."
"You ought to have yelled out who you were, boy," the Kid put in. "How'd these gents know who you might be?"
"Maybe you'd best tell us what happened," Mark said to the clerks, before Waco's spluttering fuiy could erupt into a reply.
*Two men came bm-sting in and robbed usi" Wallenheim answered, darting a nervous glance at the youngest deputy.
"One of them had a shotgun," Schubert went on. "There wasn't a thing we could do but open the safe and give them the money."
*Trhey took three thousand dollars from the safe, our watches and wallets," Wallenheim continued. "Get after them."
"How?" the Kid asked quietly.
"How?" Schubert yelped. 'They can't have gone far."
'They'd've gone a damned sight less if you hadn't—I" Waco started hotly, still standing by the trough and imaware that Dusty was coming towards him.
Stepping up behind the youngster. Dusty caught hold of his arm and chopped oflF the rest of his speech.
"Hush yoin* mouth, boy," the small Texan ordered. "Let them do the talking."
"Damn it all. Dusty," Waco protested, "if they'd let me go by, instead of throwing lead at me, I couldVe run them two down afore they reached their bosses."
"And likely got your fool head blowed oflF with the scat-ter,** Dusty replied. "Could be they saved your life, boy."
''They saved my lifel" the youngster spluttered. **A11 they did—.'*
^'Was make a fool mistake," Dusty interrupted quietly. ^'Most folks do that once in a while. Even us Texans."
"They damned nigh killed me I"
*T)on't you reckon they know that?"
"Ruhr
*Xook at them, boyi" Dusty ordered. "They're both near on sick thinking what they might have done."
'1 m not dancing with joy myself," Waco growled.
**You ve been shot at before, and likely will again if you keep on wearing a badge," Dusty told him. "Those boysVe never before been in a tight like tihat. Standing on the wrong end of a scattergun for the first time's mighty unnerving and right likely to make a man think or act a mite foolish."
**Likely," the youngster agreed.
'It's certain, not just likelyl" Dusty snapped. "I know how you feel, and'd probably feel the same had it happened to me. Only if you go in there, head down and pawing dirt, you'll make them forget every damned thing that'll help us hunt for those two yahoos."
"If they hadn't—."
"And if Babsy was a boy, you wouldn't give a damn whether she has hair on her chest or not."
*How the hell did you—."
"Ill teH you when you're older. Right now no amount of 'ifs' can change what's done. So we have to play the hand with the cards that're left. Wasting time thinking how you could've maybe run them down if you hadn't been stopped's no use. You did get stopped. So now we've got to work another way."
"So what do I do?" Waco asked.
"First thing is forget that they tossed lead at you," Dusty replied. "Mark it down to experience, boy. It goes with wearing the badge. Reckon you can do it?"
"Ill give it a whirl," the youngster promised, then grinned. "If I can go see Babsy later."
"Damned if you're not getting as bad as Lon and Mark," Dusty told him. "All right, do it and you can go oiff early."
"For a chance to see Babsy, I'd say I did all the shooting at
myself," Waco stated. '*Have you seen how Miss Freddie's got them gak dressed?^
*Tve seen," Dusty answered. Tet's go talk to the clerks.**
Something in the small Teican's voice and attitude warned Waco that he did not entirely approve of the Fair Lady's dress style. Waco wondered why, Knowing that mere prudery was not the cause of the grim note in Dusty's voice. However he knew it was ne
ither the time nor the place to raise the question.
Waco studied the two clerks' faces as he walked towards them with Dusty, reading the sick anxiety each showed. Taken with the distracted manner in which they glanced towards him while he spoke to Dusty, Waco began to understand his companion's insistence that he should overlook their actions. Worried by thoughts of what they might have done, the pair paid httle attention to the Kid's questions. So Waco prepared to accept responsibility for their over-excited error.
"I—I'm real sorry that we shot at you, Waco," Wallenheim said*
*T[t was all my fault,** the yoimgster replied. **I ought to have yelled out who I was when you opened the window."
*We could've lolled you," Schubert continued.
"Shucks! I figured you was shooting to hold me down, not to hit me," Waco told him. "I didn't get hint, so everything's fine."
In the face of the yoimgster's attitude, the clerks began to regain their confidence. The nimib horror at discovering they had almost shot a peace officer wore off and they began to think rationally.
'TLet's take a look in the office," Dusty said. **You come along, Waco. It's a slim chance, Lon, but get a lamp and see if there're any tracks. Mark, you'd best go back to the office. This could be a trick to get us away while they free Smith."
Going up to the office with the clerks and Waco, Dusty asked to be told all that happened.
**We were working on tiie books—," Schubert began.
*They came in through the door there—," Wallenheim started at the same moment.
**Suppose we let Gus tell it first," Dusty interrupted. *Tou listen, Willy, and see if you can think of anything he missed."
**Like I said," Schubert commenced. "We were working on the books when the door opened. We thought it was the wrangler bringing up a can of beer. Only it was those two
fellers. They'd got guns pointing at us, a shotgun and a rifle, and told us to hand over oiu: wallets. We did it, marshal—.'*
**So would I, with a scattergun pointed at me," IDusty assured him. **You say they told you to hand over your wallets firstr
*Tfeah. Then they took our watches and I thought they'd leave. Only the big one saw the safe door open—."
"You had the ssie open?'' Waco put in.
"Of course," Schubert ans^vered. "How else could we check the nwney against the ledgers?"
"What'd they do then?" Dust>^ asked.
'The one with the shotgun kept us covered and the other picked up a flour-sack that we use for a door mat. He put the money from the safe in it, along with our wallets and watches. Then they made us lie face down on the floor and left. As soon as we thought it'd be safe, we got up, grabbed the guns from the desk and went over to the window.''
"What'd they look like?" Dusty inquired before the clerks could start brooding on what had followed their opening the window.
"It's hard to say. They wore bandanas over their faces and their hats covered their hair."
"About how tall were theyp*
*The one with the rifle was about Waco's size and the other closer to mine."
"Anything you can tell us that Gus missed, Willy?" Dusty asked.
"I don't think so."
"How'd they talk?" Waco put id, beating Dusty to the question.
"It's hard to tell, the bandanas muflBed their voices," Wal-lenheim rephed. "I couldn't even say to their accents. But I don't think they were Texans."
At that moment the Kid appeared at the door with word that he could find no tracks. Dusty shrugged, hadng expected no more, and told the clerks that he would let them know if anything happened.
"Some of the cowhands're getting a mite festive," the Kid remarked as they left the oflBce. ^^We'd best circulate a bit and let 'em know we're around."
*T)o you want me. Dusty?" Waco asked.
"No. You go see Babsy; Lon and me can handle things for once."
**Wa5 I you, I'd change my pants first,** the Kid continued.
Not imtil that moment did Waco remember the damp, muddy state of his clothing. However he hesitated before taking the Kid's advice.
"About that hold-up, Dusty—," the yoimgster began.
"Think about it for a spell," Dusty answered. 'There's nothing much we can do until day-break anyways. Before you go to meet Babsy, write down a description of those two jaspers and tomorrow weTl see about running them down."
Much as Waco hated the thought of the delay, he knew it to be unavoidable. Not even the Kid could read sign in the dark and the law did not know in which direction to start the hunt. Anger at the two clerks rose again, but the yoimgster fought it down. In doing so, he started to think about what they had said. Before any conclusion took definite form, Waco found himself alone. Still thinking, he made his way back to the marshal's oflSce, then to the hotel to carry out the Kid's suggestion.
1
ALL IN THE LINE OF DUTY
**What's up, luv?^ Babsy asked, interrupting her comments as she became aware that they fell on deaf ears.
"Huhr Waco grunted.
**You ve not heard a word I said,** she told him indignantly.
On his return to the hotel, Waco had cleaned his gunbelt and Colts before thinking of changing clothes or taking a bath. When he reached the Fair Lady to collect Babsy, he found her in a considerable temper because the Buffalo's staff had struck back far quicker than expected. On hearing how the opposition were dressing, Buffalo Kate had made each of the girls remove several inches from her dress hem and reduce its neckline still further. All through the walk to the hotel, where they intended to eat supper before taking a stroll around town, Babsy heatedly discussed the situation.
"Sure I have,** Waco lied. **You was telling me how the girls thought they ought to go to the Buffalo and snatch them bald-headed."
"Only I'd finished telling you that and was asking what the shooting we heard was all about."
"Somebody robbed the Schubert freight outfit.**
"Ool Did anybody get hurt?"
"Nope."
"How much did they lose?"
Ill
"Something over four thousand dollars.*'
"And they got away?** she asked, eyes wide with interest
"Yeah/* Waco agreed, then told her the full story.
Indignation flashed across Babsy's expressive face. **OoI Just wait until I see that Gus Schubert. I'll tell hirn a thing or two.**
"Forget it, honey,** Waco said TThey weren't to know who was.
"You couldVe been hurt—.**
"I wasn't. So we'll leave it lie.**
"Cap'n Fog don't know who did it, does he?" Babsy asked after a pause during which Waco sank once more into the reverie which she had noticed since starting the meal.
"No," Waco admitted.
"But you reckon you do,** she said. **That*s what*s on your mind, isn't it?"
"You're a real smart lil gal, Babsy honey,** Waco told her with a wry grin. "There's something sets wrong about that hold-up. I think—^hell, I don*t know what to think for sure. Only I know that whole game was played wrong.'*
"Look, luv," Babsy said gently, reaching over to take his hand. **Why don't we leave that look at the golden horseshoe nail until later? Miss Freddie*d like me to do some more singing tonight and you'll not settle easy until you've thought this lot out."
"If that's what you want."
"It's not. But you've got a face like a wet week and youll not rest imtil you've done what you have to do."
"You're too smart for a pretty lil gal," Waco said, gently squeezing her hand. "I reckon I'd be mighty poor company tonight."
"I'd already thought that out," Babsy smiled.
On returning to die Fair Lady, Babsy went to change from her street clothes into something more suitable. Before leaving, Waco crossed to the bar and asked Vera a question to which she gave a negative answer. Outside he paused for a moment and then directed his feet towards the Buffalo. At that place's batwing doors he paused and looked piously into the sky.
"Babsy honey,
" he said. *This*s all in the line of duty, as Mark'd say."
With that he entered and, despite tending to support the Fair Lady, had to admit that Buffalo Kate had come up with
a right smart answer to Miss Freddie's challenge. Ginger came towards him, wearing a sldrt cut so high that white flesh twinkled attractively over the black of her stockings.
"Hey there,** she greeted. **Where's that fat foreigner who's usually hanging on to yoiu* shirt-tail?"
"I should be so lucky,'* Waco grinned. "Babsy told me to say 'howdy* for her—^And afore you ask, I'm working.**
"I never did have any luck,** Ginger pouted and walked away.
Crossing to the counter, Waco leaned against it for a moment until Wally, the head bartender, noticed him. Since Waco's smooth handling of the two drunken buffalo-hunters, Wally had come to regard him as a real deputy, not merely a kid wearing a badge. So the bartender passed paying customers to greet the youngster.
"Boss says your money*s no good here, Waco,** he said. "What'U it be?"
"Just a beer,** Waco replied and jerked his head towards the tables. "A man can sure work up a thirst just looking in
"Better*n at the Fair Lady, huh?**
"You don't reckon I'd be loco enough to admit that—or deny it,** Waco grinned. "Say, Wally. Have any of the sod-buster kids been in spending more than usual tonight?**
In another town, questioned by the usual run of Kansas lawmen, Wally would have given deep thought before answering and chosen his words with care. Such was the respect Dusty*s oflBce had built up that the bartender did not hesitate to answer inmiediately.
"Naw. Couple of *em come in earlier, bought a beer each and left.**
**What'd they look like and how'd they dress?**
"One was about your size, the other shorter, they wore jackets, pants, blue shirts and ties, I think. Didn't pay them much mind.*'
"The big one didn't wear a mackinaw, did he?" Waco asked.
"No. A store-bought jacket, they both did," Wally replied. "What's up?"
The making of a lawman Page 12