Action-Packed Western Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

THE SECRET OF FOX RANGE 3 nounced. “Here, Speck, lend me them ~Jong-shanked spurs of yourn. That’ th’ ‘kind Abelsén wore, wasn’t it?” : Speck. sat down on the trough also, an heaved wp a foot. “Uh-huh. An’ i réckon I get yout cay: it Ley work, We eg at that.” FTER conipleting ‘the yore of foot-gear, Bart remained at the trough and watched the others disap- pear into the corral; then he roundéd the house and walked boldly along the path that led to its rear entrance. Step- ‘ping normally, he crossed the poreh _ and opened the kitchen door. The puncher felt his muscles tighten when, Upon entering the room he saw that, ‘when scouting the place, he had overlooked the Chinese servant, who was sitting with his feet on the hearth of the cookstove. But the Oriental merely blinked at him sleepily, then dropped his chin to his chest, apparent- ly to resume an interrupted nap. — Relieved, Bart crossed the room and opened the door that led toward the front of the house. Passing through it, he found himself in a long, dark hall. : Yo the left he knew would be the dining room; at the far end, light showed through the half-opened déor of the library. — | So far, so good, but the puncher o - swore between his even teeth when bootheels welted the rear pore crossed the kitchen floor. | The darinab le luek of it, to have soméone come irom the shed, just at , then this time! Knowing that his situation now was desperate, that, at best, he would be between two fires, and that the man behind him might enter the hall at any second and see hith and call a warning to Fox, Abelson steeled meet to Walk deliberately, fmitating - on’s heavy tread as best he could. ie heart sang when, after having covered half the distance to the half- open library door, Fox called through it: “That you, Abelson?” “Uh -hth. ? along, dammit! [ve still Well, st got those dahined women on my hands and—’ Bart had “stepped along”—the more readily because he had heard the kitch- en. door swing and someone enter the hall behind him. 3 Hooking his thumbs in his belt, the he showed on the threshold of . library door, then steppéd inside kicked the door shut. ox stiffened in his chair, his hand- some face aflame with hatred, his eyes glitterin like a rattler’s, as he cast a quick side- -glance toward the gun on the desk. “Stand up, Fox—stand up an’ make your grab! I know I hadn’t ought do it, but I’m givin’ you a break,” Bart said, quietly, “I’m drawin’ when your hand touches th’ butt!” As the puncher spoke, he kept his eyes locked unwaveringly with Fox’s; but he sidled along the wall a little way from the door as he heard the man in the hall approach it. Fox heard, too, and his mouth twist- ed into a grin—a wicked, leering grin that had a hint of triumph i in it. ee “I give you your break,” Bart _ prompted him. “Better take it quick! I ain't waitin’ ‘till that other geezer _ ie? | - The unknown man in the hall fum-_ | COMIcboOOKs. com