Pulp Fiction, 1934 · page 17 of 148
Western Story Magazine, May 12, 1934 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis: "Outlaws Of Calico Hole" This is a text-only story page from a pulp fiction magazine, likely Western or crime genre. The narrative follows Alice Ford and her brother Al, who appear to be fugitives hiding in Calico Hole with an associate named Dan Stuart. The page shows dialogue and exposition as Alice questions the men's plans—Al refuses to abandon their ranch despite legal trouble, while Dan Stuart proposes joining a man named Pedro Sanchez for a quick ten thousand dollars to develop his own ranch. Subplot tension emerges around Sanchez's romantic interest in Alice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Outlaws Of Calico Hole a of it. We haven’t got long here.” He glanced about apprehensively, then his wasted lips bared in a smile. It was like the grin of a skull. “The old place looks good. And you ~ look good.” ““Where’re asked. “Fhe only place I’m safe,” Al re- plied, ‘‘to Pedro Sanchez, in Calico Hole.” Alice Ford caught her breath as though in distress at that, but she could not bring herself to argue just yet with her brother. “We're forgetting Dan,” Al said. He introduced the big fellow. ‘The best friend a man ever had, Alice, and I want you to like him.” AN .STUART’S blue eyes were smiling, and there was warmth on his rugged fea- tures, and something more—an in- terest in Alice the girl found dis- turbing. But behind it all she sensed this man was driving himself, or being driven over a well-blazed trail, and nothing could turn him aside. “Beasley said they had a special hell for cattle rustlers and bank rob- bers,” Al said, “and proved it, didn’t he, Dan?” “He tried to,’ Dan answered. His black, curly hair needed trimming, and there was heavy, black stubble on his cheeks. His jaw fell just short of being downright stubborn. Much of the tan remained on his skin, but already there was a touch of Al’s horrible yellow on the tan. “Supper is ready,” the Indian woman said. “I take care of horses. José run down road and watch if anybody come.” “Come on,” Alice. invited. “Just a second,” Al pleaded; “the air feels so good to my lungs, and I like to see good range country in- you going?” Alice stead of sweating walls. Queer, but the hight hurts my eyes. Queer “Come on, Al,” Sally pleaded. She could not stand the expression on his face. It made her want to kill Beasley and his ilk. The girls ate more than the men. Prison-fed stomachs had shrunk, and Al had difficulty in retaining good food. Nothing was said until they had finished the meal, then Alice said: “Every minute counts, so let’s plan for the future. We'll have to give up the ranch.” “Like hell we will,’ Al: Ford said. “That'd be playing into their hands. Like—hell.” A (fit of coughing ended his protest. Alice turned to Dan Stuart, whose eyes had not left her during the meal. “What are your plans, Mr. Stu- art?” she asked. “My plans?” Dan Stuart. said. “Tl throw in with Sanchez, if he’ll let me. I need ten thousand dollars to develop a ranch I have in mind, and that’s the quickest way to get it.’ He smiled, a warm, pulse- quickening smile a girl would have found attractive under different con- ditions. “Why not go with Al and me and make a new start?” Alice suggested. “You can’t beat this game.” “Sanchez seems to be beating the game ° Dan began. Al cut in. “Has Sanchez been bothermg you, Alice?” he asked. “Has he been wanting to marry your” The deeply sunken eyes were probing, and held something of pain. “He hasn’t been annoying me— much,” the girl answered. “Sanchez seems to be beating the game,’ Dan repeated. “You've got to admit that,” Al said. “Jud Tremper..zot One-eved_