Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

:. rs... How goes it?” He pulled Carlton f f : hes ithe were a doll. MCome back o a table and have a drink. Not drinkin’ today, hey? Well, have a drink anyhow!” And with great gusto he yanked the engineer» toward a seat near a window in the rear room, while the hangers-on laughed. - Dolan’s attitude changed when he had Carlton seated in the corner. He muffled his voice somewhat. _ “You darned fool!” he rasped. “What did you come here for?” -- “Why? What’s the matter?” “Matter? Huh—if Jim Black sees you— good night! He’s after you!” The engineer felt his heart thump strangely. He pondered a moment; then: ‘“‘Why should he be seeking me now?” “He needs money. He gits it from Fitch—provided. See?” “Provided!” gulped Carlton. ‘Provided he does the work, that is. I see.” He stopped and tried to figure it all out. “Then, if I go, Black gets the ranch. I see. a That’s about what Finch hinted one day © when he met my wife.” “Then he led as usual,” contradicted Dolan. “Howe” “Huh. Think Finch wants Black for aneighbor? Nix. Not. Nein! Too dan- gerous! Black gits cash!” _ The more Carlton studied the transaction, the less natural it seemed. That sort of business might be all right for the old thugs of India or the mandarins of China, but the thought of paid assassination in the civilized year of 1903 in the State of California seemed like a strain on the imagination. Though Dolan’s bailiwick was in the wildest and most lawless section of a go-as-you- please county; it took only three days to _ reach the railroad, and then the big modern cities were in easy reach. Even here their influence was felt. Dolan was thinking of installing a telephone! “It’s nonsense!” blurted the engineer. “It’s a plot to scare me out!” Carlton looked at the saloon-keeper queerly for an instant, Dolan had tried to alarm him. Might it be—could it be— that Dolan was also in the plot? -Anything seemed possible. Did this saloon-keeper size him up for a tenderfoot after all—just another “sucker” to be trimmed? Carlton was not naturally suspicious, but he Was not wholly well yet, and of late he » ~ -~ s . er - Pm - 7 — ae cs 2 tee a 2% “= v4 ~ = a “e had been filled with many perplexities. “Sure, it’s a plot,” said Dolan tiredly. “If they skeer you out, so much the better. not, you git out anyhow. See? That's where Black comes in. Finch means busi- ness. You hit him with a rail. His hosses are pizened. You shoghim, I hear. He's mad. Before that it wasn’t personal. You was only another sucker.. Now it’s pers’nal. See?” oe oe “But,” argued Carlton, “Black was in the valley several times. He didn’t start any- “Why should he? No witnesses there. He couldn’t prove self-defense. Your wife was always around. It has to be public. See?” The engineer found his throat welling and his fingers drumming on the table nervously. The lamps of the dance-hall were being hung, but he only saw them as glassy blurs. He knew his face was white, but he was able to meet Dolan’s shrewd gaze unflinchingly. There was even de- fiance in his eyes. The big man nodded. ‘“‘Are—are you sure of all this?” insisted the groping Carlton. “Certain. Finch came in several weeks ago. Drank too much of Looey Burns’ snake-juice.”” Dolan jerked his finger in the direction of a rival sin-palace. “He told Looey about his friend Black. Said Black was likely to git somebody soon. Said it was all fixed. Said there’d be one less pest in Lost Deer Valley. That meant you. Then he went to sleep under a table. Forgot all about it. Looey told me next evenin’. Perfesh’nul courtesy between sa- loon-owners. Yes, I said courtesy. We have to keep, tabs on people. ,A man’s credit may be no good. If he hangs around too long, he'll bust you. It’s business.” Carlton began to see into things he had never dreamed of. He had stumbled upon a regular, coordinated information-bureau! “Then who has been poisoning Finch’s horses?”’ he demanded. “I don’t know,” admitted Dolan. “TI got my suspicions, but I ain’t sure yet. Why the devil didn’t you stay away and gimme time to work things out?’? The boss scratched his head. “Now Finch is in town. Black’s here. You're here. It’s all mixed up. The devil only knows how it’s comin’ out!” “Well,” announced Carlton, “I’m not going to run, anyhow.” Pie . ~ = thy a? 4 com i ALLL