Adventure Magazine, March 1916 — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

Paradise Bend “A—a what?” “A cow-thief, a rustler, a sport who ain’t particular whose cows he brands.” “You lie!”’ “Ye’ll find out in time I’m tellin’ the truth. I guess now. I know more about Sam Blakely than you do, an’ I tell ye he’s a rustler.” “Kate! side. Kate sped through the doorway. Lou- don, his lips set in a straight line, followed her quickly. There, not five yards from the kitchen door, Sam Blakely sat his horse. The eyes of the 88 manager went from Kate to Loudon and back to Kate. “What's the excitement?” Blakely easily. Kate leveled her forefinger at Loudon. “He says,” she gulped, “he says you’re a rustler.” Blakely’s hand swept downward. His six- shooter had barely cleared the edge of the holster when Loudon’s gun flashed from. the hip, and Blakely’s. weapon spun through the air and fell ten feet distant. With a grunt of pain, Blakely, using his left hand, whipped a derringer from under his vest. Again Loudon fired. Blakely reeled, the derringer spat harm- lessly upward, and then Blakely, as his frightened horse reared and plunged, pitch- ed backward out of the saddle and dropped heavily to the ground. Immediately the horse ran away. Kate, with a sharp cry, flung herself at the prostrate Blakely. “You've killed him!” she wailed. —Sam—speak to me!’’ But Sam was past speech. He had struck headfirst, and was consequently senseless. Come running then Jimmy from the bunk-house, Chuck Morgan from the cor- rals, Mr. Saltoun and Richie from the office. “‘He’s dead! He’s dead!” was the burden of Kate’s shrill cries. “Let’s see if he is,” said the practical Richie, dropping on his knees at Blakely’s side. “He didn’t tumble like a dead man. Just a shake, ma’am, while I look at him. I can’t see nothin’ with you a-layin’ all over him this-a-way. Yo’re gettin’ all over blood, too. There now! She’s done faint- = That’s right, Salt. You take care of er.” The capable Richie made a rapid exami- Oh, Kate!” called a voice out- inquired “Sam 153 nation. He looked up, hands on knees, his white teeth gleaming under his brown mus- tache. “He’s all right,” he said cheerfully. “Feart’s a-tickin’ like a ’larm-clock. Hole in his shoulder. Missed the bones. Bullet went right on through.” At this juncture Kate recovered con- sciousness and struggled upright in her fa- ther’s arms. “He shot first!” she cried, pointing at Loudon. ‘He didn’t give him a chance!’ “Vou’ll excuse me, ma’am,” said Richie, his tone good humored, but his eyes nar- rowing ever so slightly. ‘“You’ll excuse me for contradictin’ ye, but I happened to be lookin’ through the office-window an’ I seen the whole thing. Sam went after his gun before Tom made a move.” Blakely moved feebly, groaned, and open- ed his eyes. His gaze fell on Loudon, and his eyes turned venomous. “Vou got me,” he gritted, his lips drawn 7 back, “but Pll get you when Marvin and Rudd ride in. They’ve got the proof with "em, you rustler!” After which cryptic utterance Blakely closed his mouth tightly and contented him- self with glaring. Richie the unconcerned rose to his feet and dusted his knees. “Take his legs, Chuck,” directed Richie. — “Gimme a hand, will ye, Jimmy. Easy now. That’s it. Where’ll we put him, Salt?” Mr. Saltoun and his now sobbing daugh- ter followed them into the ranch-house. Loudon remained where he was. When the others had disappeared Loudon clicked out the cylinder of his six-shooter, ejected the two spent shells and slipped in fresh car- — tridges. ‘When Marvin an’ Rudd ride in,” he wondered. “Got the proof with ’em too, huh. It sure looks as if Blakely was goin’ to a lot o’ trouble on my account.” - Loudon walked swiftly behind the bunk- house and passed on to the corrals. From the top of the corral-fence he intended watching for the coming of Marvin and Rudd. In this business he was somewhat delayed by the discovery of Blakely’s horse whickering at the gate of the corral. “T ain’t got nothin’ against you,” said Loudon, “but ye sure have queer taste in owners.” Forthwith he stripped off saddle and bri- dle and turned the animal into the corral. ? com € ‘S 000) a. ee) i s