Wanted! Belle Starr! by J.T. Edson Read Free Book Online

concealed
cards for as long as she lived.
    Which, the slowest pair of
‘guests’ concluded, would only be for a short period
more!

Chapter Seven – There Is a Price,
Naturally
    Despite being an acknowledged master in its
use, the Ysabel Kid made no attempt to reach for and draw the
massive, ivory handled James Black bowie knife from its sheath!
    Instead, the Texan’s response was that of
the Pehnane Comanche Dog Soldier he had been raised to be, combined
with a frontier trained gunfighter!
    It was a most formidable combination!
    Having appreciated there would be a need for
a firearm and a means of carrying it in concealment more easily
than would be possible with his enormous, four pounds, one ounce,
old Colt Second Model of 1848 Dragoon revolver, the Kid had had the
problem solved for him. Returning with Belle Starr from escorting
Andrew Bullstrode to the next town east along the railroad, he had
found that Captain Dustine Edward Marsden ‘Dusty’ Fog had reached
Newton and was able to supply what was required.
    Twisting the British-made Webley Irish
Constabulary revolver he was already grasping from its spring
retention shoulder holster, the Texan cocked its hammer with his
thumb regardless of the ‘double action’ mechanism rendering this
unnecessary. Turning it outwards, he sent the first .450 caliber
bullet into the left side of Thomas Driberg’s chest before the Colt
Peacemaker could be brought from leather and put to use.
    Because Emily Chauvelin had contrived to
pass on the fallacy supplied by the lady outlaw, ‘Reverend’ Leslie
Huckfield received a shock when he discovered the ‘gaucho’ had a
gun and was proving most competent with it. Nevertheless, although
the shot which killed the ‘cattle buyer’ was fired before he could
collect the Remington Double Derringer from the outside right
pocket of his black cutaway coat, he was not particularly alarmed.
While carrying the weapon in such a fashion did not permit a really
fast withdrawal, he had never found the need to adopt a means which
did.
    Three times in the past, when the need had
arisen, the pose of being a member of the clergy had offered an
element of surprise and Huckfield had not required any excessive
speed. Therefore, he saw no reason for concern at present. He was
confident that, having discounted him as a danger factor on account
of his ‘religious’ character, ‘Manuel’ would concentrate upon the
other two ‘guests’. This would allow him time to produce the twin
barreled pistol and open fire unimpeded.
    On other occasions, the bogus preacher had
succeeded because his deception was not discovered until it was too
late for the victim to respond to the threat he posed!
    Knowing Huckfield to be a member of the gang
and, according to the information supplied by Belle not the least
dangerous of them, the Kid was not taken unawares. Thumbing back
the hammer again while turning the short barrel of the Webley, he
directed the second .450 bullet into the center of the gaunt man’s
forehead an instant before the Remington could be brought into
alignment. Without speaking, as Huckfield was spinning around and
following Driberg in Falling lifeless to the floor, he swung the
smoking weapon to encompass and cause the remaining pair of
‘guests’ to freeze into immobility.
    “ Stand still, all of you!”
Belle commanded, in echo to the second shot, still retaining the
“Spanish’ accent as an integral part of her scheme. Having dropped
the glass as soon as she had thrown the wine, she had thrust her
hand into the open mouth of her reticule. Bringing it out, grasping
a small bottle filled with a thick, dark brown liquid, she pushed
off the glass stopper with her thumb and went on, “This contains
the only antidote for curare there is to be had anywhere in Kansas.
Unless you do as I say, I will pour it on the floor and the ‘Duke’
will die in agony!”
    The first words spoken by the lady outlaw
were superfluous where the surviving pair