Free The Ysabel Kid by J. T. Edson Page B

weapon.” Alden took the rifle to the box and replaced it, taking out another. “These are far better.”
    The second rifle looked much like the Henry at first glance, but a second showed the difference. There was a wooden foregrip along part of the magazine and a slot in the side of the frame that was not present with a Henry rifle of the old pattern. All in all the new rifle looked much stronger and reliable.
    There was pride in Alden’s voice as he showed off the rifle and explained its points to his interested audience.
    “You will notice that you load the magazine through this slot in the frame here. That allows us to strengthen the magazine tube. The magazine holds sixteen shots and a further one in the breech. Another useful innovation is that even when the gun has a full magazine single shots can be loaded into the breech allowing one to use it as a single shot but also to have sixteen ready loaded charges when needed.”
    Dusty nodded in approval as he hefted the rifle. It felt good in his hands but was still, in his opinion, too long and heavy for an effective saddle-weapon. The Ysabel Kid on the other hand held no such worries. There was eagerness in the way he took the rifle and tossed it on his shoulder, left eye closing and right eye as he focused along the barrel.
    “So this is the new Henry?” he asked as he reluctantly handed the rifle back to Alden.
    “It is,” Alden agreed.
    The Winchester Repeating Firearms Company had not yet renamed the rifle which was later to become famous as the “old yellow boy”, the Model 66 and the first of their long line of lever action rifles bearing the company name. At the moment it was still known as the new, improved Henry.
    It was a rifle that the Kid would have given his soul for. A repeater which really worked and which carried seventeen shots yet was light and compact enough for normal use. On the banks of the Rio Grande a man could use such a weapon to great advantage. More than any other weapon he’d ever seen the Kid wanted to own one of those new Henry rifles.
    “How much would a man have to pay for one of those new Henry rifles?” he asked, never taking his eyes from the gun which Alden still held.
    “They aren’t for sale as yet. But I have twelve of them for Benito Juarez and his staff.” Alden watched the disappointment flickering on the Kid’s face. “I’ve been here for a month now waiting for a messenger from Juarez, but it appears he is dead and also that I must take the rifles to Monterrey if I want to sell them. Now if I could find a couple of smart young men who knew Mexico and would act as my guides there I would be willing to present them with one of these new model Henry rifles, a hundred dollars each and five hundred of the best Tyler B. Henry forty-four rimfire bullets.”
    The Kid looked at Dusty. There was pleading in the red hazel eyes and Dusty knew that more than anything in the world his young friend wanted that rifle. It was a hard decision to make. If they went with Alden there would be no chance of waiting for General Handiman’s man, but those rifles would make Juarez more than pleased to see them. With that many repeaters and with Bushrod Sheldon’s men out of the way Juarez would be able to strike the French hard and drive them from his country.
    “We’ll take on, Tom,” he said, watching the delight on the Kid’s face. “If you remember one thing. We’ll only be able to get you to the town of Monterrey. If we get there and you sell the guns that is the end of our deal. We’ve some business of our own in Mexico and can’t take time out to come back north with you. Is that all right?”
    “Most certainly. Once we’ve sold the rifles I will make my own way back. No doubt Juarez will give me an escort with the money.”
    The Ysabel Kid laughed. He took the rifle and caressed it, hefting it with all the pleasure of a child with a new toy. “You watch that escort, Tom,” he warned. “Was I you I’d pay them