Go Back to Hell by J. T. Edson

Author:J. T. Edson [Edson, J. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: dusty fog, the ysabel kid, piccadilly publishing, j t edson, comanches, the floating outfit series, best western books, western novels
Amazon: B07PMFDVWB
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing
Published: 2019-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten – The Rest of the Money’s Hidden

Walking along Hell’s main street, Emma Nene, Giselle Lampart, Dusty Fog and Break O’Day went by Doctor Connolly’s home and office building towards the front door of the Honest Man saloon. Largest building in the town, the saloon alone had two floors. On the upper’s verandah rail was nailed a large wooden sign bearing the name of the establishment, but no painting to illustrate the title as was common in such premises elsewhere.

‘How could an artist paint something that doesn’t exist?’ Emma countered when O’Day mentioned the discrepancy.

It was noon and, apart from themselves, the street was deserted; which did not surprise the women or Dusty. In fact, they had been banking on finding such a condition.

During their approach from the tree-lined top of the hollow in which the town had been erected, they had seen no sign of human life. For all appearances, the entire population might have been laid to rest in the large graveyard. A few horses were hitched outside the various adobe jacales which sprouted irregularly beyond the business premises flanking the main street and more occupied the livery barn’s corrals. The barn’s staff had not been present, so the newcomers had tended to their horses unaided and left the animals in previously untenanted stalls. Having been presented with ownership of the barn, for his part in removing the original proprietor, Dusty had the keys to its side rooms in his possession. Unlocking the office, he had allowed the others to leave their saddles and portable property until it could be more suitably cared for.

After the Kid’s departure the night before, Dusty had told O’Day the story concocted by Emma and secured the man’s offer of assistance if it should be needed. So O’Day accompanied the women and the small Texan, while Waco went off to attend to another matter.

To an unknowing observer, Hell would have looked like any other small, sun baked range country town. A mite more prosperous in its appointments than most, maybe, but with nothing to hint at its true nature and purpose. Most of the conventional business and social amenities could be located; with the notable exceptions of a bank, jail or stagecoach depot. There was neither school nor church, but other small towns also lacked them.

Facing the Honest Man stood the lengthy, well-appointed ‘Youseman’s Funeral Parlor’; which probably had a sobering effect upon revelers who were all too aware that capture by the law would mean death on a hangman’s rope. Beyond the saloon and on the same side was Giselle’s home which also combined with the mayor’s office and what had passed for a bank.

On stepping through the batwing doors into the large barroom, Dusty, the women and O’Day found that they could no longer remain unobserved. Although the majority of the room was unoccupied, the stairs and balcony empty of people, six men and a big, buxom, garishly dressed woman sat around what had been Emma’s private table. Startled exclamations burst from them as they looked towards the main entrance.

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