The Science of Sombreros
derived no satisfaction from the fact that the closest bullet had been a ricochet, for a key-holing slug makes an awful mess if it lands.
"I'll bust yore neck!" quoth Johnny, shaking a fist at the persistent nuisance; and then he jumped aside as a sudden sharp spat! came from the bowlder. "You can shoot near as good as Red Connors: but if he was here he'd show you what that little difference means." He raised his voice: "Hey, Repeater! Who is that fool?"
Sanford laughed softly and made no answer; but he carelessly showed a shirt sleeve, and when he jerked it back under cover it needed a patch.
"What th' h—l you doin'?" demanded Sanford heatedly.
"Who's Red Shirt?"
"Ackerman."
"Then he's better with a Sharp's than a Colt."
"That's a Spencer carbine."
Johnny laughed derisively: "If it is he'll strain it."
"It's a Winchester," chuckled Sanford
"Yo're a liar!"
"Yo're another! She's a single-shot, .40-90."
"Then he's changed guns. He had a Winchester repeater in Hastings. I saw it."
"You'll see too much some day. You'll see a slug in yore eye."
207
