The Floating Outfit 29 by J.T. Edson

Author:J.T. Edson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: the old west, piccadilly publishing, jt edson, the floating outfit, dusty fog, american railroad, westerns fiction
Publisher: Piccadilly

Chapter Ten –

Dave Short Wants You

Looking around, the two Englishwomen and the rest of the Texans had no trouble discovering the reason for Waco’s words and action. Michael Meacher was approaching through the crowd of onlookers, all of whom were showing signs of disappointment that the loading of the horses had failed to produce any dramatic display. At the sight of the staghorn handled revolver, which came into the blond youngster’s right hand with a speed indicating much practice and suggesting a similar ability at shooting accurately, most of the spectators, even those who had not heard of his competence in such matters, hurriedly scattered. However, the cause of the reaction skidded to a halt and, accepting the pain caused to his injured shoulder, jerked his hands into the air.

It was obvious from the would-be hired killer’s appearance that, although he had not been subjected to any physical abuse, his sojourn in the jailhouse had left its mark. Beneath the stubble on his cheeks, his face was pale and haggard. Despite having been fed adequately during his confinement, he had lost weight and his clothes were hanging somewhat baggily. Although the rest of his attire was the same, he was wearing a shirt out of his warbag—recovered by the peace officers along with the property of his dead companions from the horses they had left at the rear end of the alley where they waited for their intended victim—to replace the one damaged when Doctor Brian Farnsworth gave first aid to his wounded shoulder. However, his gunbelt and its two Colt 1860 Army Model revolvers were conspicuous by their absence.

‘H—hold hard th—there!’ Meacher requested in a quavering voice.

‘What the hell do you want?’ Waco demanded, retaining the Army Colt’s barrel in a rock steady alignment and holding back the hammer with his thumb while keeping the trigger depressed by his forefinger.

T—To See Cap’n Fog,’ replied the survivor of the abortive ambush. ‘I—I’m not toting a g—gun!’

‘Come ahead,’ the small Texan commanded, feeling sure the assertion was correct.

‘What the devil is he doing here?’ Raymond Sangster demanded, striding back quickly and pointing at the newcomer. ‘Has he escaped from the jail?’

‘Hey!’ Meacher yelped before the question could be answered, staring at the New Englander. ‘You’re the one—!’

‘The one who what?’ Waco demanded, still without having lowered his revolver.

‘Who—!’ Meacher began, then paused for a few seconds before continuing, ‘Who—Who hoodwinked me that night in the jailhouse.’

‘That wasn’t difficult,’ Sangster sniffed disdainfully. ‘But why isn’t he still being held there?’

‘He’s been turned loose,’ Dusty Fog replied, the words being directed his way.

‘Turned loose?’ the New Englander repeated, sounding as if he could not believe his ears.

‘That’s right,’ the small Texan confirmed. ‘I’ve decided not to have him brought to trial.’

‘Why ever not?’ Sangster asked, looking at Meacher and finding he was being subjected to a scrutiny he assumed to be caused by awe over the memory of the successful deception he had achieved when they were together in the cell.

‘For one thing,’

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