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Don't be a Hero

Short Story (4675 words)

This story appeared in the American journal Argosy in February 1951 and was reprinted in the small-format British magazine Magpie in August 1951. The setting is Italy. A former surgeon turned journalist owing to an injury to his hand suffered in the war is called on to perform emergency surgery on the wife of an outlaw in a remote village. The character of the outlaw is based on the real-life figure of Salvatore Giuliano, who was shot in controversial circumstances in 1950.

Published in Argosy (USA), February 1951.