Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

152 “That man,” said Swing Tunstall, point- ing a derisive finger at Luke Tweezy, “isa liar by the clock. I seen the whole thing. An’ all I gotta say is that Lanpher went after his gun first.” “T ain’t doubtin’ yore words, Swing,” Alicran said tactfully, “but they seems to be a difference of opinion sort of, an’ ——”’ “T say that Luke Tweezy is a —— liar,” reasserted Swing, “an’ they ain’t no differ- ence of opinion about that.” “Well, of course, if Luke—”’ Alicran did not complete the sentence. “T am a lawyer,” Luke Tweezy explained hurriedly. “TI ain’t payin’ no attention to what this man says—now.”’ “Or any other time,” jibed Swing. “Any of you boys see this?” Alicran asked of his three punchers. “He tried to kill me, I tell yuh!” ‘Lanpher gritted through his teeth. “He didn’t gimme a chance.” “Any of you boys see it?” repeated Alicran, paying no attention to Lanpher. * “How could we?” asked Rod Rockwell, glancing up from the bandaging of Lanpher’s arm. “We was all in the bunk-house.” “Then for the benefit of the gents who wasn’t here,” said Racey smoothly, “T don’t mind sayin’ that I told Lanpher to go after his gun, an’ he did, an’ I did.” “He’s a liar,” gibbered Lanpher. “‘Ali- cran, ain’t you man enough to take care of Racey Dawson?” Alicran nodded composedly. “I guess him an’ me would come to some kind of an agreement, provided I was shore he needed takin’ care of. - But I ain’t none shore he does. Looks like it was a even break to me, the word of you an’ Luke against his an’ Swing’s. An’ what’s fairer than that, I'd like to know?” ~- ‘“Alicran!”’ squailed Lanpher. in’ you to——” “Yo’re all worked up, that’s. whatsa- matter,” Alicran assured him. “You don’t mean more’n half yuh say. You le down now after Rod gets through with yuh an’ cool off+-cool off considerable, I would. Do yuh a heap 0’ good. Yeah.” “An’ when you get all well, Lanpher,” put in Racey, “will I still be a liar like you say?” Lanpher looked at Racey and looked away. His heated blood was cooling fast. His arm—Lord, how it hurt! He perceived that discretion was necessary to preserve his precious skin from future perforation. “Pm tell- Adventure “T—J guess I was a lil hasty,” he mumbled, his eyelids lowered. “Now that’s what I call right down hand- some—for you,” drawled Racey. “ knows I ain’t no hawg. I’m satisfied. Luke, s’pose you an’ me walk out to the corral together. pearly ear.’ It was obvious that Luke Tweezy was of two minds. Racey grinned to see the other’s hesitation. “What yuh scared of, Luke?” he inquired. “Tt ain’t far to the corral, an’ you can ask Alicran to come outside an’ watch me while I’m talkin’ to yuh.” “T ain’t got no business with yuh,” denied Luke Tweezy. “Oh, yo’re mistaken, a heap mistaken. Yes indeedy you got business with me. But it ain’t my: fault, Luke. I can’t help it. Of course, if you don’t wanna talk to me private-like I can reel her off in here. thoughts was all of you an’ yore feelin’s, Luke, when I said the corral. I was shore you’d be happier there.”’ “T ain’t got nothin’ to hide, not a thing,” declared Luke Tweezy. “But if you wanna we'll go out to the corral.” iw. _| THEY went out to the corral and = Racey found a seat on an empty nail-keg. Luke Tweezy sat _per- force on the hard-baked ground. He hunched up his legs, clasped his hands round his shins and rested his sharp chin on his bony knees. His eyes were fixed on Racey. The latter seemed in no hurry to begin. He rolled a cigaret with irritating slowness. To force one’s opponent to wait is always good strategy. “Well,” said Luke Tweezy. “Ts ite” smiled Racey. own way if you like. Lookit, Luke, you buy a lot of scrip now an’ then, don’t you?” “Shore,” nodded Luke. “Good big discount, Ill bet.” “Why not? I ain’t in business for my health. They’s no law “Of course there ain’t. An’ yore mort- gages, Luke. Do a good business in mort- gages, don’t yuh?” **So-so.”” “This mortgage of Old Man. Dale’s now, you figurin’ on foreclosin’ if he can’t pay?” “Whadda you know about Dale’s mort- e?”’ “T heard seach yawpin’ about it. He (C@ I got a secret. for yore ANIELOOOLCKS My | “Have it yore iGO