Adventure Magazine, March 1916 — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

Paradise Bend The following day Loudon and Richie rode to the Bar-S. On Loudon’s mention- ing that he was riding no longer for the Bar-S, Richie immediately hired him. He knew a good man, did Jack Richie of the Cross-in-a-box. When they arrived at the Bar-S they found Johnny Ramsay conscious, but very weak. His weakness was not surprising. He had lost a great deal of blood. He grin- ned wanly at Loudon and Richie. “You mustn’t stay long,” announced Miss Saltoun firmly, smoothing the bed- covering. “We won’t, ma’am,” said Richie. “Who shot ye, Johnny?” “T dunno,” replied the patient. “I was just a-climbin’ aboard my hoss, when I heard a shot behind me an’ I felt a pain in my neck. I pulled my six-shooter an’ whirl- ed, an’ I got in one shot at a gent on a hoss. He fired before I did, an’ it seems to me there was another shot off to the left. Any- way the lead got me on the side of the head an’ that’s all I know.” “Who was the gent on the hoss?”’ Loudon asked. “T dunno,-Tom. I hadn’t more’n whirled when he fired, an’ the smoke hid his face. It all come so quick. I fired blind.. Ye see the chunk in my neck kind o’ dizzied me, an’ that rap on the head comin’ on top of it, why, I wouldn’t ’a’ knowed my own brother ten feet away. I’m all right now. In a couple o’ weeks I'll be ridin’ the range ~ again.” ‘Sure ye will,” said Loudon. sooner the quicker. nurse.’ “T sure have,” smiled Johnny, gazing with adoring eyes at Kate Saltoun. “That will be about all,” remarked Miss Saltoun. ‘He’s talked enough for one day. Get out now, the both of you, and don’t fall over anything and make a noise. I’m not going to have my patient disturbed.” Loudon went down to the bunk-house for his dinner. After the meal, while waiting for Richie, who was lingering with Mr. Sal- toun, he strove to obtain a word with Kate. But she informed him that she could not leave her patient. “See you later,” said Miss Saltoun. “You mustn’t bother me now.” And she shooed him out and closed the door. Loudon returned to the bunk-house and sat down on the bench near the kitchen. “An’ the You’ve got a good 151 Soon Jimmy appeared with a pan of pota- toes and waxed loquacious as was his habit. “Who plugged Johnny? That’s what I’d like to know,” wondered Jimmy. “Herel leave them Hogans be! They’re to eat, not to jerk at the windmill. I never seen such a kid as you. Yo’re worse than Chuck Morgan, an’ he’s just a natural-born fool. Oh, all right. I ain’t a-goin’ to talk to ye if ye can’t act decent.” Jimmy picked up his pan of potatoes and withdrew with dignity. The grin faded from Loudon’s mouth, and he gazed wor- riedly at the ground between his feet. What would Kate say to him? Would she be willing to wait? She had certainly encouraged him, but— Premonitory and unpleasant shivers crawled up and down Loudon’s spinal column. Proposing was a strange and novel business with him. He had never done such a thing before. He felt as one feels who is about to step forth into the unknown. For he was earnestly and honestly very much in love. It is only your philanderer who enters upon a propo- sal with cold judgment and a calm heart. ~N HALF an hour later Loudon saw . Kate at the kitchen window. He Sac! was up in an instant and hurrying toward the kitchen door. Kate was busy at the stove when he entered. Over her shoulder she flung him a charming smile, stirred the contents of a saucepan a mo- ment longer, then clicked on the cover and faced him. | “Kate,” said Loudon, “I’m quittin’ the Bar-S.” “Quitting? Oh, why?” tone was sweetly regretful. “Lot o’ reasons. I’m ridin’ for the Cross- in-a-box now.” ~ He took a step forward and seized her hand. It lay in his, limp, unresponsive. Of which lack of sympathetic warmth he was too absorbed to be conscious. “Kate,” he pursued, “I ain’t got nothin’ now but my forty a month. But I sure love ye a lot. Will ye wait for me till I make enough for the two of us? Look at me, Kate. I won’t always be a punch. [ll make money, an’ if I know yo’re a-waitin’ for me, I’ll make it all the faster.” According to recognized precedent Kate should have fallen into his arms. But she did nothing of the kind. She disengaged her fingers and drew back a step, ingenuous Miss Saltoun’s comichbooks N ou (E(9) és & ue ib, re < Fj af? Aptis ‘a hE ot Gd So eos i> iy { ap ‘anh AA : ’ wy eye ENE Taree! 3s ie Lacs y hat hea ee Dig Op OR BOL Yee og ii &