Novel 1955 - Heller With A Gun (v5.0) by Louis L’Amour Read Free Book Online

bank was correct, there was fifteen thousand in gold hidden in those show wagons.
    Mabry might ride away, but Barker was no gambler. And he had seen the way Mabry and Janice looked at each other. There was no place in his plans for interference by a man of Mabry’s caliber.
    â€œNo,” Griffin said at last, “I won’t touch it.”
    â€œI’d think you’d hate his guts.”
    â€œMabry?” Griffin’s eyes were venomous. “I do. I’d kill him in a minute if it was safe.”
    â€œThere’s no reason he should even see you.”
    Griffin stared at the comforter on the bed. He hated snow and cold, and with money in his pocket he could go to California. California would be nice this time of year. He’d worked for Hunter quite a spell, or he would never have gone after Mabry for him, but knowing Hunter, he did not want to return and report his failure. The old man had a reputation as an honest cattleman and he did not like hired gunmen who were able to talk. But California was no good to a dead man.
    â€œThey wouldn’t find him until spring,” Barker argued, “if they ever found him. You could be a hundred yards off, and if you missed you’d have time for another shot.”
    Mabry had only two hands. He was only a man, and Griffin had never been bested with a rifle. Bellied down in the snow with a good field of fire…
    Griffin threw his cigarette into the fire. “I’d want it in gold.”
    â€œHalf tonight, the rest when the job is done.”
    Barker must feel those wagons carried real money. Maybe he could get in on…No, not where women were involved. You could steal horses and kill sheep, you could even murder a man in broad daylight and have a chance, but if you molested a decent woman you were in real trouble.
    He shoved a chunk of wood into the potbellied stove. What kind of a man had he become? Once he would have shot a man for even suggesting that he hire his gun. Now was he ready to take money for murder? With Hunter, the brand had been involved, a ranch he was riding for. But this was murder.
    Where was it a man made the turn? What happened to change him? He had once been a kid with ideals.…
    â€œAll right,” he said, “get me the money.”
    That was the kind of man he had become.

Chapter 5
    K ING MABRY HAD been absent five days when he crossed the creek again and rode up to Hat Creek Stage Station. He told himself he was a fool to return here and to half kill a horse and himself to do it. Yet the thought of Healy’s taking off into the winter with those women angered him.
    The least he could do was ride along and see that they made it. After all, he was going in that general direction himself.
    Yet when the station came in sight there were no vans and no evidence of activity.
    Suddenly worried, he came down the hill at a spanking trot. At the barn he swung around behind it. The vans were gone!
    The hostler came to the door as he swung down. “That black of yours is gettin’ mighty restless. He’ll be glad to see you.”
    â€œWhen did they pull out?”
    â€œThe show folks?” The hostler stoked his pipe. “Day after you did. Barker, he was in a fret to get off. They figured on leavin’ today, but he’d have it no way but to start right off. Said the weather was just right.”
    Mabry looked at the snow-covered fields. He could see the ruts in the snow left by sled runners.
    â€œSwitch saddles,” he said. “I’ll be riding.”
    The hostler hesitated. “That there Griffin,” he said, looking carefully around, “he’s been askin’ after you. Ever’ day he comes to see is your horse still here.”
    Crossing to the stage station, Mabry ate hurriedly and got what supplies he would need. As he went through the saloon he saw Griffin sitting at a table idly riffling cards.
    Following the southern slope of the hills, Mabry rode