Adventure Magazine Cover — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

30 “You’re lookin’ for Henry Buskirk?” Hawkins insisted, as if he doubted his hearing. “Yes, Iam looking for Henry Buskirk,” was the emphatic reply. “I understand that he may be found in this neighborhood and I came here to see if I could locate him. Either of you gentlemen know anything about him?” | Jack Hawkins and his friend should say they knew something about Henry Buskirk! They had more than a suspicion that at that very moment a keen searcher might possibly find him somewhere in the hills that ranged north and south for a con- siderable distance not far from Sutton. | Furthermore, they knew, as did every- body who knew anything at all about Buskirk, that perhaps no man in all the world more deserved hanging: And no man, perhaps having broken the laws of the land as often as he, seemed more im- mune to arrest and prosecution. It would appear, either that the officers of the law were afraid of him or he was too sly to get caught. Buskirk was considered a dangerous man to meddle with. He was never without two .45’s hitched to his belt, and he had demonstrated time and again that he knew how to use them with deadly effect, shooting as readily and accurately with one hand as with the other. A gun-fight with Buskirk was equivalent to his opponent’s signing his own. death-warrant. A sight of the man was sufficient to in- spire fear. He stood much over six feet tall in his silver-spurred boots and. was brawny and deep-chested. His face showed a mixture of viciousness and cunning and the cast of his glittering black eyes was a constant threat. | There was a report based upon pretty reliable authority to the effect that at various times he had killed five men. There was no reason for doubting the truth of the report, while there were several reasons for accepting it. He at least looked capable of the killings. In the opinion of those who knew the man and his moods it was far safer to trifle with high-percentage dynamite than with Buskirk. He was the sort of man to let alone, and conservative people with a wish to live did let him alone. Yet here was a total stranger, whoever he might -be, coming from Heaven only Adventure knew where, actually inquiring for Buskirk and seemingly anxious to find him. Know- ing what they did about Henry Buskirk, there was no wonder that Jack Hawkins and his friend looked at the little man askance. “You say you was a friend of his, mister?” said Hawkins at length. “T didn’t say, but if you happen to ask me I’ll say no,” returned the horseman. Had the two men been watching his face closely they might have seen his lips tighten perceptibly and the subdued gray of his eyes flash like sunlight on ice. “Buskirk’s a-way big man,”’ said Peters suggestively. “Yes, I believe he is, but big men are not always invincible men,” was the an- swer to that. ‘However, if you can’t tell me anything about him I’ll go on.” “IT reckon we can tell you something about him,” said Hawkins quickly, ‘‘seein’ he drops in my place two or three times a week for his liquor. He was in yisterday an’ he may be in tomorrow or next day. When he comes in ag’in [’IF tell him you’te lookin’ for him.” “T’ll be much obliged if you will,” the other said. “You say that’s the hotel down there where I see the sign hanging out front?” “Phat's: her,” “Thanks, gentlemen.” The horseman gathered up his reins and prepared to ride on. “Who'll I tell him’s lookin’ for him?” called Hawkins. = ‘Just say that a special deputy sheriff from Yuma, recently appointed by your sheriff for this particular job, is here looking for him about a certain matter of a month ago down round Tacna. He’ll know all about it.” The special deputy from Yuma _ rode away. Behind him a pair of jaws dropped and a pair of eyes stared after him with astonishment. Then a pair of mouths opened and gave vent to a series of noisy guffaws. ‘“Ain’t some people the ———est fools you — ever seen!”’ cried Peters. “The idea of that little maverick lookin’ for Buskirk makes me laugh!” shouted Hawkins. And he did laugh, uproariously, Peters . joining him. ‘Jack, I aim to lay round this here town next few days till Buskirk comes in an’ see Gomichbooks (E@)