Oliver Strange - Sudden Westerns 07 - Sudden Rides Again(1938) Read Online Free PDF Page A

will—not,” Sudden said brusquely. “Yu can hock yore hardware.”
                 This
astounding proposition hit them like a blow. “Four guns for four measly
dollars?” a cross-eyed fellow named “Squint” exploded. “You got a nerve.”
                 “I
got a gun, too,” the puncher reminded. “An’ it ain’t a matter
o’ four dollars neither ; it’ll cost yu ten apiece—I’m bettin’ there’s
some back payments. Get busy, Sam.”
                 Little
as he liked the task of depriving his customers of their weapons, the
saloon-keeper obeyed; he was beginning to realize that this saturnine guest was
not to be argued with. Sullenly the victims submitted, and then their leader
offered a comment:
                 “Fella
with the drop can allus call the tune,” he sneered. “If you didn’t have—”
                 The
front legs of the lounger’s seat thudded on the floor. In three seconds he was
at the bar, handing over his own guns. His smooth-shaven, tanned face was hard,
his eyes threatening.
                 “Take
care o’ those, Sam, an’ don’t interfere,” he ordered. “I can handle these
coyotes my own self.” He faced round. “Well, got any ideas?” he asked.
                 For
a moment it seemed they had not; the confident audacity of the challenger had a
paralysing effect; they could not credit that, facing odds of four to one, he
had willingly placed himself at a disadvantage. Scar was the first to recover.
His eyes gleamed.
                 “Fancyin’
yoreself, huh?” he said. “C’mon, boys, we’ll soon trim this young cock’s comb
for him.”
                 With
muttered oaths, they began to move towards the man leaning indolently against
the bar. He did not wait for them. One swift stride brought him to the nearest,
his right fist shot out with all the momentum of the movement behind it. to land with a dull thud on the fellow’s jaw. As though
kicked by a mule, he tottered on his heels for an instant and crashed
senseless.
                 “Tally
one,” the cowboy called, and stepped lightly to the middle of the room, where
they would be unable to hem him in. “On with the dance, hombres, or do I have
to fetch yu one at a time?”
                 The
jeer brought about the result he desired—they made a concerted charge, rushing
blindly forward, only to receive another lesson. Jumping back, Sudden
overturned a table in their path, which not only checked but split up the
attack. Scar and Squint elected to pass the obstacle on one side; the third man
took the other, to his own undoing, for Sudden—expecting just such a
move—sprang in, drove a left to the face, and, as the recipient’s head snapped
back, followed up with a perfect punch on the solar plexus. Under that venomous
blow the man collapsed like a hinge and rolled in agony on the ground, gasping
for breath.
                 “Tally
two,” the cowboy chanted grimly.
                 This
further depletion of their force produced a certain hesitancy on the part of the attackers, and then Squint evolved what he
regarded as an inspiration. Stooping behind his comrade’s back, he snatched up
and hurled one of theheavy stools. Sudden saw it coming, ducked, and the
missile struck the log wall and became kindling-wood. That was a game two could
play at, however, and Sudden’s stool came so swiftly that Squint, unable to
dodge, was rapped sharply on the forehead by one of the whirling legs, and
ceased to take any further interest in the proceedings.
                 “Tally
three,” Sudden grinned. “Sorta evens things up, huh? Come an’ get yores,
crooked face.”
                 Staggered
as he was by this speedy removal of his supporters, Scar did not refuse the
invitation. So far the stranger had sprung the surprises; now it was his turn.
But he advanced slowly,