Novel 1966 - Kid Rodelo (v5.0) Read Online Free PDF Page A

“I got it made.”
    Jake looked up inquiringly. His expression changed slowly. Clint held a gun in his hand. “Clint! You—”
    The gun muzzle stabbed flame, the shot thundered in the empty old adobe, then sounded again. Jake Andrews sagged forward, his mouth opening as if to speak.
    Clint holstered his gun and, kneeling, dragged the box up through the hole he had ripped in the floor. With the pick he broke open the box, smashing the still solid wood, then he swore.
    The box was packed with old letters, deeds, assay reports, and a variety of legal papers. Reaching in with both hands, he brought out a double handful and spilled them on the floor. There was no sign of any money. Desperately, he went to the bottom of the box, scratching about with both hands…nothing.
    Up the street he heard a door slam, and there was a sound of running feet.
    Springing up, he looked wildly around, then ran to the door and peered out. Dan Rodelo was coming down the street toward him, with Nora close behind.
    Instantly, he lifted his gun and fired, aware even as he pulled the trigger that he had shot too quickly and had missed.
    Dan ducked across the street and into the deeper shadows, calling to Nora as he did so. “Get out of the light! He’ll kill you!”
    Clint leaned from the door, caught a glimpse of Nora’s moving figure and threw his gun into position. Catching the glint of light on the gun barrel, Dan fired. Clint’s gun dropped and he disappeared into the building. Swiftly, Rodelo crossed the street, gun ready.
    Clint ran to Jake’s body, toed him over, and grabbed at the dead man’s gun with his good hand.
    “Drop it!” Rodelo was in the doorway. “I don’t want to kill you.”
    Nora, staring at Jake’s body, suddenly lifted her eyes to Clint. “You killed him.
You!
”
    Snatching Jake’s gun, she lifted it, but before she could fire, Dan wrenched the gun from her hand.
    “I might need him, Nora.”
    “You,” he motioned at Clint with the gun. “Get into that bunk.”
    “What’s the idea?”
    “We’ll be waiting for a while. Better make yourself comfortable.”
    “What about my hand?”
    Rodelo glanced at the hand, which was bloody but did not appear to have been more than creased. “Wrap it up. You won’t lose much blood.” He gestured toward the dead man. “You’re better off than he is.”
    “Why don’t you shoot him?” Nora said. “He tried to kill you.”
    “I’m not the law, nor am I justice. But if he shoots at me again I will kill him.”
    “What became of Sam Burrows?” Nora asked. “He didn’t even come out on the street.”
    “Why should he? Sam’s lived a long time by minding his own business.”
    Gathering up the guns, Rodelo tucked the spares behind his belt. He had an idea that before the night was over he might need all the fire power he could get.
    “I’m going back to finish that coffee,” Nora said finally.
    He looked at her thoughtfully. “Go ahead. And take your time.”
    Then there was silence in the room. The lantern lit the room only dimly, and Clint lay on his back, nursing his wounded wrist and thinking. Dan Rodelo had no doubts as to what he was thinking and he knew that, given a chance, Clint would kill him even as he had killed his partner.
    The trouble for Clint was that he had no idea what to do. He wanted the gold, and it must be somewhere about; but when he believed the gold had been found he had killed the one man who might have known. There might even be a clue in that mass of papers, but in which one? What kind of a clue?
    Rodelo, as he waited, was trying to think from Clint’s viewpoint. The man wanted to kill him, but he would not be likely to take a chance until he had some clue to the gold, or had the gold itself.
    Hearing footsteps, Rodelo looked out. It was Nora, carrying the coffee pot and some cups.
    “Sam said to bring it along, you might need it.” She placed a cup on the table and filled it for Rodelo, then one for Clint and one for