Action-Packed Western Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

64 ACTION-PACKED WESTERN called Lefty. They were sitting by the fire, and beyond them the puncher saw a dark splotch on the clifiwall that he took to be the mouth of a cavern of — some sort. He kept straight on till, after fifty feet, he discovered a clump of boulders which had been avalanched down by some snowslide or torrent. The three drew in among these rocks and waited. And none too soon, for the lantern came bobbing down the hillside, and in its light Bart saw Fox and Bill. The two came almost at a trot, turning a dozen feet from the three. When they approached the cliff the lantern-light uncovered a flight of crude steps that led up to the level of the ledge. Bound- ing up these, Fox commenced shower- ing orders right and left in a voice that easily carried down to the listening three. “Carry all those tools into the cave, Lefty... Roll that bedding up, Abel- son... Commence - hustling rocks, Bill... Jump, now, all of you!” The men worked swiftly under Fox’s dynamic driving. After seeing them started, he took a hand himself, dump- ing tinware and cooking utensils: into the blankets Abelson was bundling. Once when Bill stopped near him to “shift the rock he was carrying from one shoulder to the other, Fox grabbed it, balanced it easily on one hand and hurled it onto the heap with an effort- less sweep of his muscular arm. Fox glanced up only casually when a fifth man came out of the cavern and stood looking curiously at the others. He was tall, straight, not over forty, and his body looked fit and hard be- neath the undershirt and breeches that were his only clothing. His yellow hair and beard had grown long and straggly, but his skin was clean and ruddy. Bart started with surprise when a clinking sound attracted his attention, and he saw that a heavy chain was - fastened to the man’s ankle, and that it ran back into the cavern. “Looks like it’s movin’ day, = ‘the chained man said, picking up a kettle and heaving it into the blanket Abelson _was gathering up by the corners. When nobody answered him, he shrugged and sat down near the opening of the cave. Just then Bart felt Speck’s trembling body pressed against his. Sensing the situation on the instant, he reached out and caught the rifle his old pard was swinging to a level. “Steady, Ol’ Hoss! | Easy now—easy—easy! Can’t yuh see that hobbled geezer’s right in line of your lead? “Just stay put till we see. aaat's gonna greak!”’ ITHIN a quarter of an hour the dunnage had been stored in the cavern, and a heap of rocks was grow- ing beside the entrance. Fox wiped his hands daintily on a white handkerchief and tucked it into the breast of his tweed jacket. He bent before the fire to look at his watch. “Well, Ill be going, Abelson, I’ll take Lefty along with me, to help work the stuff over at the house. “You and Bill carry rock till you have enough to stop that entrance. Make it look as natural as possible. ‘Before you close it, though, put every-. thing inside. Don’t leave an empty can or a scrap of paper to show that any- one ever has worked or camped here.” He looked fixedly at Abelson for a moment. “You understand me, don’t you. i said leave noting outside that cave.’ “Shore thing, I gotchu,” Abelson chortled. ‘‘Nothin’ outside when we leave—jus’ nothin’ a-tall.” He leered meaningly at the watching prisoner. Fox nodded approvingly. ‘Right. Now step lively. You'll have to hustle — to finish and get over to the house and help me get ready to leave there. Come right to the 1% rary and report.” “Tust a minnit, Fox,” the prisoner said, quietly. “I onderstand what yuh mean, of course. Yuh fellers leave, an’ J stay here, with ‘nuff lead in me to — = = =comicbooks-com