Pulp Fiction, 1934 · page 50 of 148
Western Story Magazine, May 12, 1934 — page 50: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This page contains story prose from *Street & Smith's Western Story Magazine* (page 48). The text depicts a courtroom drama followed by a jail-break plot. A judge sentences a character named Al to hang on the thirtieth; afterward, Alice writes secret letters to outlaw leader Pedro Sanchez and Dan Stuart. Sanchez receives Alice's message and devises a rescue plan, composing multiple deceptive notes—one to Alice, one to the deputy sheriff at Wagon Gap jail (falsely claiming he'll attack on the twentieth), and one to Dan Stuart. Sanchez uses an Indian boy as his messenger and deliberately mixes up the letters to create confusion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
48 Street & Smith’s Western Story Magazine “It is the judgment of this court that you be taken to the State peni- tentiary, and there, on the thirtieth day of this month, be hanged by the neck until dead—dead—dead!” His voice echoed against the walls. Al stared beyond the judge to the stars. He seemed like one in a trance. “And may God have mercy on your soul!” The deputy sheriff gently pushed Alice and Sally aside as the prosecu- tor said: “Your honor, in view of Sanchez’s outlaws, and the fact the defendant is a member of the band, I suggest he be taken immediately to the peni- tentiary. I fear there may be some attempt to rescue him.” , The judge frowned. “This court yields to Sanchez or no one else. The usual procedure will follow,” he thundered, angered at the mere sug- gestion of danger from Sanchez. “Court is adjourned.” The gavel banged. Outside, it was dark and cold. The two girls walked slowly toward the hotel, arm in arm, and after a while Alice spoke. “Be ready to go anywhere with Al, Sally,” she said. “Anywhere— any time.” They entered the lobby. “Run upstairs and go to bed—I’m going to write a letter.” She seated herself at a desk and wrote a note to Pedro Sanchez, and one to Dan Stuart. CHAPTER IX. TEXAS RANGERS. N Indian boy brought the two notes to the barbed wire in Calico Hole, where the guard held him and sent for Sanchez, The outlaw, El Mudo, and Dan came down to the wire. The former ac- cepted the notes, glanced briefly at the envelope addressed to Dan, and said: “This is yours. and there'll ibe no answer. to your cabin.” The outlaw leader opened his own message and read: It’s from Alice, Go back Pepro SANCHEZ: Al sentenced to hang the thirtieth. He will be taken away sometime after the twenty-second. Come and get us before then. ALICE. Sanchez smiled softly, then his eyes narrowed. “I shall borrow from Stuart’s plan and arrange to divert a few man hunters.” He sent back to his cabin for paper and envelopes. Ee nme the first note to Alice. It read: My Daruine: I shall not fail you and will strike when the time is ripe. Your Pepro. “See that the lady gets this,” he directed the Indian boy. He then wrote a second note: © My Daruine ALIcE: I shall attack the Wagon Gap jail in force some time on the twentieth and rescue Al. Please be ready to leave with me at that time. Prepro SANCHEZ, He gave this, also, to the native boy. “Tell the deputy sheriff at Wagon Gap a strange man gave you this, and the man looked like he might be one of the Sanchez band. Ask him what to do about it. I am sure he will read it.” Sanchez smiled — and gave the boy a twenty-dollar bill. “Go! And don’t mix up the letters.” Dan Stuart’s letter was brief, and carried a sting: Dear Dan: They are going to hang Al on the thirtieth. Throughout the trial his comichooks,-com