Gunman's Reckoning (1921) by Max Brand

sake of the money which he won by crooked card play. I think that's simple. Put your hands up, George, or, by heck, I'll let the starlight shine through you!"
    The huge arms of George were raised above his head; Godwin, in the meantime, had not spoken.
    "I almost think you mean it," he said after a short pause.
    "Good," said Donnegan. "I do not wish to kill you unprepared."
    There was a strangled sound deep in the throat of Godwin; then he was able to speak again, but now his voice was made into a horrible jumble by fear.
    "Pal," he said, "you're dead wrong. George here--he's a devil. If you let him live he'll kill you--as sure as you're standing here. You don't know him. He's George Green. He's got a record as long as my arm and as bad as the devil's name. He--he's the man to get rid of. Me? Why, man, you and I could team it together. But George--not--"
    Donnegan began to laugh, and the gambler stammered to a halt.
    "I knew you when I laid eyes on you for the first time," said Donnegan. "You have the hands of a craftsman, but your eyes are put too close together. A coward's eyes--a cur's face, Godwin. But you, George--have you heard what he said?"
    No answer from George but a snarl.
    "It sounds logical what he said, eh, George?"
    Dead silence.
    "But," said Donnegan, "there are flaws in the plan. Godwin, get out of your clothes."
    The other fell on his knees.
    "For heaven's sake," he pleaded.
    "Shut up," commanded Donnegan. "I'm not going to shoot you. I never intended to, you fool. But I wanted to see if you were worth splitting the coin with. You're not. Now get out of your clothes."
    He was obeyed in fumbling haste, and while that operation went on, he succeeded in jumping out of his own rags and still kept the two fairly steadily under the nose of his gun. He tossed this bundle to Godwin, who accepted it with a faint oath; and Donnegan stepped calmly and swiftly into the clothes of his victim.
    "A perfect fit," he said at length, "and to show that I'm pleased, here's your purse back. Must be close to two hundred in that, from the weight."
    Godwin muttered some unintelligible curse.
    "Tush. Now, get out! If you show your face in The Corner again, some of those miners will spot you, and they'll dress you in tar and feathers."
    "You fool. If they see you in my clothes?"
    "They'll never see these after tonight, probably. You have other clothes in your packs, Godwin. Lots of 'em. You're the sort who knows how to dress, and I'll borrow your outfit. Get out!"
    The other made no reply; a weight seemed to have fallen upon him along with his new outfit, and he slunk into the darkness. George made a move to follow; there was a muffled shriek from Godwin, who fled headlong; and then a sharp command from Donnegan stopped the big man.
    "Come here," said Donnegan.
    George Washington Green rode slowly closer.
    "If I let you go what would you do?"
    There was a glint of teeth.
    "I'd find him."
    "And break him in two, eh? Instead, I'm going to take you home, where you'll have a chance of breaking me in two instead. There's something about the cut of your shoulders and your head that I like, Green; and if you don't murder me in the first hour or so, I think we'll get on very well together. You hear?"
    The silence of George Washington Green was a tremendous thing.
    "Now ride ahead of me. I'll direct you how to go."
    He went first straight back through the town and up the hill to the two tents. He made George go before him into the tent and take up the roll of bedding; and then, with George and the bedding leading the way, and Donnegan leading the two horses behind, they went across the hillside to a shack which he had seen vacated that evening. It certainly could not be rented again before morning, and in the meantime Donnegan would be in possession, which was a large part of the law in The Corner, as he knew.
    A little lean-to against the main shack served as a stable; the creek down the hillside was the watering trough. And Donnegan stood by