Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

rr s again except for its te nothing had happened. Dolan and Carlton ambled toward the front of the place, get- ting out of the way for the dance about to start. A few tired-looking girls had ap- peared long before and mingled with the crowd of prospectors, miners, ranchers and cattlemen from every part of the hills. A piano, a fiddle and a bass-drum had been tuningup. The board walls were beginning to rattle at the noise, and pictures of ac- tresses, culled from the sporting journals, were vibrating. ‘ The portly Doctor Davis came in at length, strutting importantly at the head of aretinue. Dolan’s practised eye estimated he was half-sober, while those at the bar plied the medical man with questions. “All he needs is a little time and nursing,” announced the professional man., “The bullet struck the temporal bone, went along the screamous portion, glanced off the more _ peetreus tracts and avoided the mastoid, making a welt, a track or what might be called a crease. Except for possible con- cussion, gen lemen, I doubt that any ma- terial complications can occur. He is rest- ing easy at the hotel.” Ed Hendry, from the Willow Creek country, leaned his tall frame against the bar and voiced his curiosity loudly. “What made him yell like a wildcat when he came to?” “Delirum,” responded the doctor courte- ously. “Perfectly natural. Any one gets twisted around after a blow like that. Why, one-half an inch more and he’d have been dead!” : “Huh. That's the first time Finch ever let himself out!” commented the rancher. “He usu’lly snivels. Did he git over it?” ““Ae’s calmed down now,” admitted the doctor. “Friend of yours?” “No!” snapped Hendry. “Ah,” said the horse-doctor, changing the subject tactfully. “Bartender, set ’em up. Your pleasure, gen’lemen, every one!”’ But Dan Dolan was loyal to his bet. “No!” he countermanded. “No drinks for the doc! Everybody but the doctor!” _ The crowd turned. The insulted veter- Inarian sputtered. _ “Why?” he demanded. “No drinks till Finch is out of danger!’? Hendry, the | Willow Creek “rancher, turned around and faced Dolan. TS a ered horses and the jangle of piano music. It was just as if T5 - “Ys Finch a friend of yours?” he inter- posed very quietly. The boss bristled. “What’s it to you?” The rancher’s face whitened, but he faced Dolan without flinching. “Then you're through!” he flared. “I knew Finch in Escalante. If you're a friend of his, you’re a low-down, sneakin’, lyin’, hoss-stealin’ skunk that a decent rattlesnake wouldn’t be seen in company with! Why, you e The boss could not hesitate before an audience like this. It was a matter of prestige, decided instantly. The mighty fist of Dan Dolan crashed into Hendry’s face and whirled him backward into the horse-doctor. The smack sounded like an ax hitting a tree. The rancher and the medical man rolled to the sawdust together. The crowd parted as if by magic. Dolan stood alone, fist clenched, facing the prone man. Two other Willow Creek men sidled in, facing Dolan wrathfully. “Want some, too?” roared the boss. One of them grabbed his arm. He did not argue. He shoved the man aside. The other reached downward toward his belt. Quick as light, the giant rushed him and planted a pole-ax blow into his face. That man also fell to the floor. Some one yelled. The place became tu- multuous. Carlton edged toward the boss loyally, but Dolan needed no help. He stooped over quickly and disarmed the man who had reached downward. Then he stood up with a gleaming six-shooter in his hand. “Any one else want in?” he roared, look- ing around truculently. No one volunteered. Some of the crowd even drew back. The _ boss, satisfied, walked over to the first man he had struck. Ed Hendry of Willow Creek was just com- ing to. The horse-doctor was fanning him, “Here!” said the boss, pulling Hendry to his feet. ‘Git out!” He led the unresisting man to the door and gave him a gentle shove. Then he re- . turned and picked up the second victim, shook him a bit and helped him to the door also. It had all happened within a - “All right!” cried the boss, waving his hand _to the crowd in the dance-hall. : ee clear! On with the dance! Strike