Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

The Road to El Dorado The whisky, too, was a vast improvement on the Taos product. The belief that the liquor was thoroughly innocuous, or as California Joe expressed it “lacked authority,” was largely engendered by the calm and unruffled appearance of Durgin, who had accompanied the train to town, and who boasted of having sampled the stock very vigorously. This skepticism was somewhat allayed by the belated ar- rival of Mason, who could remember noth- ing of what had happened after his first onslaught on the trader’s hospitality. Trade at the wagons became very brisk, with the Arapahoes proving to be a nui- sance because of their persistence in seek- ing entrance behind the wagons. In town Laramie Pete and Old Missouri, indiffer- ently aided by the trappers, did a rushing business in liquids. The dealer in Taos lightning glumly watched his chances of easy fortune go a-glimmering as the more mellow article sold under the canvas estab- lished its ascendancy. Neither of the trappers was intended for commercial pursuits; and after a brief and bungling endeavor to promote Pete’s pros- perity they jumped over the bar, informed those who insisted on being served where they could go to, and made a lazy tour of the town. While they were not fastidious in dress the muddy appearance of the miners displeased them. Not because it was mud _ but because it was a badge of servitude. A man bowed double under a load of gold would have registered the same effect. Old Oakes would not open his game until - night, and as Natchez had glossed over his experience and had failed to mention the gambler by name the trappers had no inti- mation that the fman was in that vicin- ity. As the two returned to the wagons Joe glanced at Reason’s solemn face and said: “Don’t blame ye. Queer how a parcel o’ men can spile a place by clutterin’ it up with shovels an’ picks. We'll be leavin’ here mighty soon.” Now came Parson Kitts to the wagons, quite resplendent in clean and freshly greased boots. Natchez presented him. He shook hands with the men in a very hearty manner, bowed low before Miss June and eagerly assured her of his desire to be of service at any time. He was a masterful man; the girl was flattered, and Natchez in- clined to be jealous. His visit was brief, 59 however, as he declared that he must be about earning his living. The men walked a bit with him and met Laramie. The trader was introduced to Kitts by Natchez, who took the opportu- nity to remark—with a meaning glance at Laramie—that the Parson was the leader in the new settlement. ‘Hardly that, my young friend,” laughed Kitts. ‘The boys are good fellows and sometimes are good enough to listen to me. I’m older than most of them. That’s all.” ““M’sieu is ver’ polite. But he is ver’ big man here. He is like um bourgeots. My young friend here tells me he saw a man here last night who stole ten thousand dollars from me after killing one of my men.” ‘Stole ten thousand dollars!” cried Kitts. “Who is he?” “‘When he was with the wagon-train he was known as Red Shirley,” said Natchez, “He was one of the four men who came through the brush wal! of the gambling- place when the dealer whistled for help.” “T know him. He still calls himself Red Shirley,” said Kitts, pursing his lips and frowning thoughtfully. “Of course this camp isn’t made up entirely of saints. Some tough ones in every new camp. We never ask what a man did before he came here. We keep watch only on what he does while here. It would be rather an ugly mess to accuse him of stealing the gold, let alone trying to make him confess and give it back.” “What ye want to bother Mr. Kitts with such stuff for?” impatiently asked California Joe. ‘Me ’n’ Tom was plannin’ to drop in on-him afore night an’ have him fetch th’ money back.”’ “Not so fast, California,’ warned Kitts. “We're trying to keep this town decent. We don’t want to fall back on any vigilante work. We object to any one settling his troubles in his own way. We object all the more if he’s a new man. I don’t hold any office in this town, and what influence I have is due entirely to my always telling the boys we must work for the welfare of the town. We have some fighting and shooting, of course, but we try to keep it down. “Your friend says he’s been robbed by Red Shirley. I believe him. But Shirley got here first and has made friends. Some men came with him who’ll stand behind him. ] “If you go after the money rough and COnmmicloooks (C@