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Updated: May 11, 2025
Bright and fatal target for an eye like Steele's! Bo Snecker lay clutching his gun, his face set rigidly in that last fierce expression of his savage nature. There were five other dead men on the floor, and, significant of the work of Steele's unknown allies, Hilliard and Pickens were among them. "Steele and I made for camp then," I concluded. "We didn't speak a word on the way out.
He went out and glanced down the street toward the center of the town. He did not see any one he could take for the innkeeper's assailant. Then he looked up the street, and he saw the young fellow about a block away, hurrying along and gazing back. Duane yelled for him to stop and started to go after him. Snecker broke into a run. Then Duane set out to overhaul him.
He meant to do it. I would have to kill him. "Sampson, listen!" I cried, very swiftly. "The game's up! You're done! But think of your daughter! I'll spare your life, I'll give you freedom on one condition. For her sake! I've got you nailed all the proofs. It was I behind the wall the other night. Blome, Hilliard, Pickens, Bo Snecker, are dead. I killed Bo Snecker on the way up here.
Some of them work odd times. They rustle a few steer, steal, rob, anythin' for a little money to drink an' gamble. Jest a bad lot! "But the strangers as are always comin' an' goin' strangers that never git acquainted some of them are likely to be the rustlers. Bill an' Bo Snecker are in town now. Bill's a known cattle-thief. Bo's no good, the makin' of a gun-fighter. He heads thet way.
"I'll see to that," replied Wright gruffly, and he pushed Snecker in front of him into the hall. I followed them out into the court at the back of the house. As I had very little further curiosity I did not wait to see where they went, but hurried back to relieve Miss Sampson and Sally. I found them as I had left them Sally quiet, pale, Miss Sampson nervous and distressed.
I never stepped more naturally and carelessly into the saloon. It was full of men. There were men behind the bar helping themselves. Evidently Blandy's place had not been filled. Every face near the door was turned toward me; dark, intent, scowling, malignant they were, and made me need my nerve. "Say, boys, I've a word for Snecker," I called, quite loud. Nobody stirred.
I whirled and shot. Talk about nick of time! Blandy pulled trigger just as my bullet smashed into his head. "He dropped dead behind the bar and his gun dropped in front. But he had hit Steele. "The Ranger staggered, almost fell. I thought he was done, and, yelling, I sped to him. "But he righted himself. Then I wheeled again. Someone in the crowd killed Bo Snecker as he wobbled up with his gun.
It made me sick as if it had hit me. But Steele never budged. Snecker leaped up, screaming, his gun sputtering to the floor. His left hand swept to his right arm, which had been shattered by Steele's bullet. "Blood streamed everywhere. His screams were curses, and then ended, testifying to a rage hardly human. Then, leaping, he went down on his knees after the gun.
"Blome, Bo Snecker, Hilliard, and Pickens, the ringleaders, had painted the town in celebration of Steele's death. They all got gloriously drunk except old man Snecker. He had cold feet, they said. They were too happy to do any more shooting or mind what the old rustler cautioned. It was two o'clock before they went to bed.
There were two motives in Duane's action one of anger, and the other a desire to make a friend of this man Laramie, whom Duane believed could tell him much. Duane was light on his feet, and he had a giant stride. He gained rapidly upon Snecker, who, turning this way and that, could not get out of sight.
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