Adventure Trails, February 1929 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

ADVENTURE TRAILS and the chief has two jobs for every man, SS Give the mare a rest and buy a few things, eee ILSON had darted suddenly around the corner of a ’dobe hut near which they were standing, but came back in a and start along the back trail. Sunup to- — —— moment grinning ruefully. morrow, probably.” ee “Too quick for me. An eavesdropper. “You'll beat me, then,” laughed Ted. ee Evidently somebody’s recognized me, or ——= “T’ve got to pick up a bunch of hands here: — Se = to take back to the mine; the turnover is something fierce, and you have to keep about a hundred per cent more than you need on the payroll because half of your B25 help is drunk all the time.” so “IT know how it is,” nodded Wilson, | ‘‘See you later, then, perhaps.” else guessed why I’m here. Or perhaps just curious on general principles to know what the gringoes are talking about. Hard to say which. Chief thought I could get by with it; too bad. That’s why he didn’t write you; knew that the letter would be opened and read, and you two haven’t any code fixed up. But you were saying?” “J think your imagination is running away with you, Wilson,” chuckled Ted. “These greasers are just naturally curious, that’s all. Besides, you were speaking in English, and they don’t savvy that. I was ‘saying, though, that you can tell the chief that I’ll take the job if I see any signs of that being necessary ; right now we’re busy as the devil, and frankly, I think the old Ted walked slowly down the one dirty, narrow, unpaved street of the town, think- — ing over the message Wilson had brought. - If it were true, it was indeed serious. Yet he could not believe that the rumor was well founded. He would have heard something ; he was sure of that. And yet, he had never known that old, round- shouldered, gray-headed chief to be mis- taken in a case of this sort. = ze boy’s having a nightmare.” ae “T can’t persuade you differently?’ TI] asked Wilson. “Not a chance, I’m afraid,’ Ted as- sured him. “I’d gladly take it on, if only to protect our own interests here, but— well, I’m right here on the ground, and I think if there was anything going on, I'd hear about it. Sorry!” “So am I. The chief’ll be sorry, too. But of course—’” He waved a hand vague- ly. He could not command. “When you starting back?” asked Ted, anxious to change the subject, for it made him uncomfortable to have to refuse the request of this quiet, abrupt fellow-coun- tryman who had ridden so far to see him. “Tf you aren’t in any hurry, we'd be glad to have you ride out to the mine and spend a few days. My partner and I—Scotty Leonard, you know, who used to work - with me—have got things fixed up pretty nice, considering, and we'd all be glad to have you stay as long as you can, White people from civilization are rather wel- - come, you know.” “Sorry,” replied Wilson, and there was real regret in his voice. “Got to hurry . _ den moves if you value your life. THE VOICE FROM THE DARK ED made his way back to his little — camp near the edge of town, cooked himself a simple but satisfying meal, and leaned back contentedly against a tree to fill and light his pipe. By that time, the enveloping Southern night had wrapped itself around the camp, and the glowing stars of the tropics gleamed softly in the sky, undimmed by — any moon. From the forest behind came a thousand night sounds, and faintly Ted could hear ribald, masculine laughter and a woman’s maudlin soprano. “Lots of excitement, but no peons for the mine,’ mused Ted. “At this rate, I’ll be a month getting a dozen men together.” A sharp click, as of one pebble striking — another, came from the direction of the trail. Taking no chances, Ted sprang for his carbine, which lay across his saddle only a few feet away. But he was not quite quick enough. “T wouldn't!” snapped a voice. “Stand where you are, and don’t make any sud- I have ana back. Things: are rather restless, Fo, te os