Action-Packed Western Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

18s SECRET OF FOX RANGE ridge es, greying the hillsides, inking the drains and swales. Abelson lighted a lantern and stood holding it as a bea- con. Another light bobbed about among the mules like a restless will-o’-the- wisp. “How much more?” Abelson asked, when the carriers plodded past his lantern. “One sack,” one of them answered. “Bill’ll fetch it. He’s goin’ in with us.” ‘“Whew-ee! Believe me, I ain’t none sorry this is *bout over. Ain’t been so cussed tired sence—” The fellow hushed abruptly and went trotting down the path with ludicrous haste when Fox’s full, powerful voice sounded from the branch. “You up there! Shut up and get yourself on down here! “How’s everything, Abelson?” “Fine and dandy. I kin hear Bill a-comin’ with th’ last load. “Are we gonna take th’ tools out?” “No. Leave the bedding and food, too. I'll be up there as soon as I get ‘these dumbheads started. Who else is over there?” “Take and Lefty.” “All right. You go down there, and the three of you wait for me. On second thought, let Jake come on out, and I'll bring Bill back, when I come. I have a special job for you and him.” Fox turned his attention to the pack- ing. “Special job, eh?” Bill grunted, as he passed Abelson and took to the de- cline. “Huh! Gimme three guesses *bout what that job is, an’ I'll give two of ’em back to yuh.” “Reckon, yuh’re right,” Abelson chuckled, then set his lantern beside the path and disappeared over the crest. Bart heard Speck draw in his breath with a hissing sound and curse cold- bloodedly. ‘Steady ol’ feller,” he cautioned the excited old plainsman. - “Keep your shirt on and hang hold of - My tail when I start. I’m figgerin’ you'll get all th’ action you need, ‘fore __ this night gets much older. _ “We're goin’ over there, ae ’ | Hannon?” === <4 ‘Veh. 33 “Awright, stick close to ; Speck. Ste light. If £ stop you fellers, stay put ti I start you ag’in. Don’t even whisper. Back any play I make. “When I say back my play, I mean back it with your rifle an’ both sixes. When they’ re empty, back it with your fists an’ your teeth. If I got things doped right, we got a coupla big jobs on hand, an’ we may have to fight like a sackful of drunk catamounts. “T hear Fox an’ his bunch leavin’ an’ we gotta get over there before he comes back... C’mon. I don’t know just Where we're goin’, but I think I know what we’re gonna do.” apuEX STARTED, Bart swerving to keep away from the lighted lantern. As he was working back toward the path he stopped when bootheels grated ahead, and he remembered that the man called Jake was to come out. The three stood immobile, backgrounded by a scrub cedar, while the man passed: then Bart entered the path, and they followed it over the crest. There was no moon, and the stars lighted only dimly a zigzag track that led up from the pitch-darkness of what appeared to be a deep slash that ran along the base of the ridge, which had a much more precipitous face, on this side. Hurrying down to the lower level, Bart immediately saw a light a short distance down the slash, and against So the face of the cliff. He was surprised _ to note that it was slightly above the level on which they stood. The path now had broadened, and hard rock was underfoot, with here and there queer basinlike depressions that he avoiced with difficulty in the un- certain light. Keeping to the wall on the side opposite the ridge, he actually passed the light, which he eetse a was on a broad ledge, eight or ten fee above the level of the sluicelike bed - In which they were traveling. As they passed, silently, he could see Abelson - com and another man who must be the one _ (©)