Boot-Hill Payoff Author:Robert Howard Excerpt: — Five men were riding down the winding road that led to San Leon, and one was singing, in a toneless monotone: — "Early in the mornin' in the month of May, — Brady came down on the mornin' train. — Brady came down on the Shinin' Star. — And he shot Mr. Duncan in behind the bar!" — "Shut up! Shut up!" It was the youngest of the riders who rip... more »ped out like that. A lanky, tow-headed kid, with a touch of pallor under his tan, and a rebellious smolder in his hot eyes.
The biggest man of the five grinned.
"Bucky's nervous," he jeered genially. "You don't want to be no derned bandit, do you, Bucky?"
The youngest glowered at him.
"That welt on yore jaw ought to answer that, Jim," he growled.
"You fit like a catamount," agreed Big Jim placidly. "I thought we'd never git you on yore cayuse and started for San Leon, without knockin' you in the head. 'Bout the only way you show yo're a Laramie, Bucky, is in the handlin' of yore fists."