Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

132 “Why, my name’s Frank Hesbern,” the man answered readily enough. “I’m kind of looking around for a new country to settle in.” “Understand you got a baby with the stomach ache?” “Me? Oh, my, no! ’Tain’t my baby. I never did get to marry. It’s a lady’s. She’s camped on the flat. The man he’s sickly. The old lady asked me to get an empty flat bottle to put on the kid’s stomach, tha’s all.” “IT see—” Culder funny!” “What?” Hesbern’s gray eyes squinted. “The baby was crying, sir. They wanted to put warm water on its stomach, ’count of the ache.” The city marshal laughed and strolled on while Hesbern watched him wonder- ingly. Thereafter in the days that fol- lowed, sometimes one, sometimes five or six inquirers would speak to the stroller, asking him about the empty bottle. After Jistening to the explanation they would say: “That’s funny!” Then they would go on their way, leaving the awkward stranger puzzled more and more. * O* DAY Cock Eye, waddling on nodded—“‘‘ that’s his short legs and with his rotund stomach protruding, was again strolling around the square in the after- noon. It chanced that he met Hesbern, who greeted him. “Say, mister,” the stroller asked, “What’s there funny about me getting an empty bottle?” Cock Eye bristled angrily. “Who you talkin’ to?” he demanded. Hesbern’s gray eyes looked wonderingly into the man’s face, steady, narrowing and losing their sparkle in an odd, moon colored opacity. “Ten-twelve fellers told me you said it was funny,” Hesbern answered quietly. “T want to know why?” Cock Eye’s face swelled a_ blotchy white, red and purple. “What’s it to ye?” Cock Eye cried, his RAYMOND S. SPEARS voice rising from a growl inte a shrill hawkhke shriek, which attracted atten- tion far and wide. “T-got that empty bottle for a baby with the stomach ache,’ Hesbern de- clared. “An old woman ast me to, so’s they could put it on the kid, account of the lady what had it being in bed, an’ her man sickly. I don’t see nothin’ funny in a baby having the stomach ache.” ; “T don’t care a damn if you do or not!” Cock Eye snarled. “Uh-huh!” Hesbern grunted, going on his way with two store bundles under his arm. “Hey, you!” Cock Eye called after him. “I wanta know what’s aching you *bout me? Anyhow, you mind yer own business *bout me!” Hesbern turned to gaze at the short, thick, angry man. “Course,” Hesbern answered presently, “I mind my own business. I always do, mister. I’ve been hearin’ some talk, tha’s all.” “{ don’t care what ye hear!” Cock Eye growled into a shriek. “Tha’s what I thought!” Hesbern said shortly, and the bartender’s lower Jaw dropped. PONHAT night instead of just a few of the boys coming into the One Way Thru Saloon, the place was crowd- ed. About every-one had come out. Cock Eye Baer, with’ flat face and glowering eyes, served the drinks, very tart in his few words. “Hear that stroller insulted you, Cock. Eye?” a newcomer inquired. ‘What'd he say?” wi “Why, he ast me what’s funny about that empty bottle! I told ’im to mind his own business, bellyaching around. I stood right up to him an’ tol’ ’im I didn’t care what he thought! An’, by Gawd, he said he didn’t care what I thought! I’m gettin’ sick of him standing up to me thataway. I don’t have ta take anything from him, I don’t!’’ “Tha’s right, Cock Eye!’ the listeners comlicloooks.com