Action-Packed Western Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2 — page 46: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

46 sion stands now. He made a nice little - hoss spread there, and was comin’ right on financially. He also tinkered with prospectin’ kinda as a side line. Staked a coupla ol’ timers an’ let ’em mess aroun’ that dry branch you crossed when you went up to Fox’s place. _ “Then, one fall, Fox showed up out there. Trout fishin’ brung ’em, so he said. Him an’ Stanley got thick as boardin’ house bugs. Next thing any- body knowed somebody dryguiched Stanley—Blowed his head almost off with a shot gun, ’thout givin’ ’im no break a-tall. “After a bit, Fox showed up here in town with a will bearin’ Stanley’s sig- nature an’ leavin’ everything to Fox. It looked all reg’lar an’ it stuck. Them two prospectors ain’t been seen since. “Right soon Fox built that big house, an’ he lives in it like a king. He’s boss of th’ range—no mistake ~ *pout that. ’Nother thing ’bout Fox that it’ll pay you to remember is, he’s — greased previousness with a sixgun, an’ he’ll mix powdersmoke with anybody.” “What’s he doin’ out there—not ranchin’ much; a man with half an eye can see that,” Bart remarked. Speck snapped away a butt and com- menced building a fresh one. ‘Fox ain’t doin’ anythin’ out there—least- wise no ranchin’ that would pay salt bills for his help. Fact is, as I’ve dis- covered in th’ last five weeks, Fox is 2 city slicker, usin’ that place as a hicsout when th’ Chicago police is ‘psut to throw a loop on ’im. Also, he jets other highup city slickers hide out. That’s th’ kinda guests he entertains with> them split-tail dinners, yuh know.” Dart was surprised to find himself able to rise, spurred on by a sudden excitement. ‘Not all of ’em,” he de- clared, fiercely, swinging his feet to _ the floor and heaving his body erect as a vision of blonde, violet-eyed love- __liness appeared before his eyes. “Keep your pants on, Son,” Speck _ ACTION-PACKED WESTERN | advised. “I know what you mean. I s seen that gal t’other day, an’ she shore is one high-bred looker. But she’s there, an’ she’s stayin’ there. That puts th’ earmark on ’er.” = “Not for me it don’t,” Bart said, hotly, then told how she had clapped her hands when he had defied Fox. “That bogs me down, an’ I dunno what to think,” Speck admitted. He looked thoughtful for a time, then rose to pace restlessly back and forth across the cell. - “What’s eatin’ y’ur gizzard?” Lyons asked. “What do you have to do with Fox, anyway?” “Jus’ this,” Speck whirled to an- swer. “That kid sheriff, Stanley, was my youngest brother.” Bart was puzzled again. “But vuh said y’ur name was Kinney. If it’s Stanley, how come you—” “It ain’t.” a “Then what makes you say—” “I don’t—’cept when I’m talkin’ to you privately. Don’t anybody here know me as Stanley. I was livin’ in Okleehoomy, an’ I come out here to find out who killed my brother. I never let anybody know who I was. So I’m jus’ Speck Kinney, understan’.” “An’ you think Fox—” “Yeh. He killed Harry or had him killed, shore as shootin’ is shootin’. An’ he forged that will. Next thing’s to prove it. : | “Here I am in th’ calaboose with "bout a dollar an’ six bits to my name— if it didn’t slip out of my pockets when that bunch jumped me, las’ night. Fox ain’t in jail, an’ he’s plenty rich, an’ he owns a sheriff an’ a judge ur two, an’ a distric’ ’torney. But, I gotta get ’im, Son! I jus’ gotta!” 2 “Pretty hard to git a loop on a idea,” Bart submitted, propping himself on one elbow on the bunk, and commenc- ing to lace himself a cigaret. He was growing stronger every minute, and his head had ceased to hurt so badly. — “More especial as he’s got ug close- — penned here.” _ : (E(0) EComicbooks