Death Waits at Sundown by L. Ron Hubbard

“We’re going right on into San Carlos.”
    â€œYes,” said Susan.
    â€œAnd we’ll get there
before dark if we push along. So don’t lag.”
    â€œYes, Big Bill.”
    â€œAnd when we get
there, don’t go wandering off anyplace before I can find the justice of the
peace. Understand? You’ll spend tonight out at my ranch and as long as you
behave yourself and quit monkeying around with bandits, you can stay. Do you
get that?”
    â€œYes, Big Bill,” said
Susan.

Story Preview
    N OW that you’ve just ventured through some of the captivating tales in the Stories from the Golden Age collection by L. Ron Hubbard, turn the page and enjoy a preview of The Toughest Ranger. Join gun-shy cowboy Petey McGuire, who’s been kicked around
all of his life. Faced with starvation, he bluffs his way into a job with the
rough-n’-tumble Arizona Rangers . But when he’s
chosen to hunt the most dangerous desperado in the state, Petey’s forced to discover
what it really means to be Ranger-tough.

The Toughest Ranger
    H E did not know how far he went as
his legs were numb and walking, mechanical. But when he looked up he was on the
outskirts of a small pueblo. The biggest building in it was a fort-like ’dobe
structure which presented an arched gate to the road. There was a sign about
that gate: “THE ARIZONA RANGERS.”
    Petey stopped, hardly seeing the sign
at all. In this town, he knew, he could swab out a bar for food. He could clean
up a stable. . . .
    But Pat had to have shoes and oats
and a few weeks’ rest.
    He turned and looked at the weary
little cow pony who didn’t even raise his head. Pat pushed ahead a staggering
step and shoved his muzzle into Petey’s chest.
    â€œYeah,” said Petey. “Yeah. I know. I’m
hungry too.”
    He went toward a saloon and wrapped
Pat’s reins about the hitchrack. Petey stepped through the doors and into the
dim interior.
    The bartender was a thick-jowled
fellow, shining up glasses. He took one look at Petey and marked him for what
he was—saddle tramp.
    â€œBeat it,” said the bartender before
Petey had spoken. “We got a swamper. There ain’t no room in Cristobal for
saddle tramps.”
    â€œLook,” pleaded Petey.
    â€œYeah, but you better do the lookin’.
Captain Shannon locks up every man that can’t pay his way. He’s cleanin’ up the
country, see? He’s tough, the toughest Ranger in the state and you better take
my tip. Beat it.”
    â€œYou mean . . . you mean just because
I’m broke he’d lock me up?” said Petey.
    â€œWell? Why not?”
    A chill of terror shook Petey. He
turned around and went out into the street. He stopped with Pat’s reins in his
hand and stared at the big ’dobe building which was marked with the sign: “THE
ARIZONA RANGERS.”
    He knew what he faced. If they locked
him up, Pat . . . He hadn’t realized until now how shabby Pat looked after a
thousand miles. They wouldn’t take care of Pat.
    But he couldn’t go on. No, he couldn’t
take to the desert again. That way lay death. And here was death for Pat.
    His hand was shaking as he pulled his
hat brim down. He had no solution for this. Captain Shannon was tough, toughest
Ranger in the state. . . .
    Petey swallowed hard.
    If Pat . . .
    Suddenly he wanted to hit somebody,
anybody. He wanted to lash out and slay these ghosts which had stalked him for
twenty-four years. His rage began to mount.
    They had no right to do this to him.
No right to kill Pat by loosing him on the waterless desert. Pat needed care!
    Suddenly Petey McGuire felt cold. His
wits felt like crystal in his head. He was not shaking. He had felt himself
grow taller and the experience did not even surprise him. His young face was
set and his blue eyes were suddenly hard.
    They couldn’t kill Pat.
    And he knew what he could do.
    It was an amazingly