Adventure Magazine Cover — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

8 Adventure “Not so much. Most of ’em’s too ten- der-hearted. ‘That’s where they lose out. Now me, I ain’t bothered that way a-tall.” Tom knew it was true. He also knew it was a careless prophecy. If Tom led him into the cafion and he saw that gold-ledge, then what? Would he merely drive Tom away from the place or would he eliminate a rival claimant and save future trouble? The answer was certain. Tom saw what he was up against. Reali- zation struck him like a sledge. Hot rebel- lion surged over him. It was not so much the mortal’s fear of dying. It was revul- sion against dying now. Young, strong, with everything to live for and the gratification of all his desires within reach, he stood aghast at this injustice. He wanted to live. He had to live. There was a girl He clenched helpless fists, then un- clenched them. That was not the way. Anger would arouse anger, and the other man had every advantage, There must be other ways. Tom catalogued the little bandit’s very apparent failings. He was vain, cold- blooded and reeking with cupidity. ~Tom decided to begin on the man’s van- ity. He had no plan in mind. He only wanted an opening for an even chance. Any opening. ‘“How did you happen to be on top of the Soe in?” he queried over his shoulder. “T jest thought I'd look around.” “How did you know I’d come in this di- rection?” “Fresh tracks at your water-hole. They led straight to the hill.” “T see. You're a good tracker.” The words came reluctantly. Tom hated to flatter a man he longed to smash, but he had to. Had to! Holding down his feel- ings, he laid it on thick. ‘““VYou’ve got enterprise, all right.: I sup- pose you heard everything we said in camp last night.” “Every word.” “How is it you didn’t stick us up then?” “YT wanted plenty of light and plenty of time. I wanted to ketch one of you alone. I ain’t no darned fool.” “No. I guess you’re brainier than most of ’em. The average man would have horned wm right there.”’ Tom stopped and turned, holding his empty hands up. “Say! Listen! You’ve got a little intel- ligence. Why don’t you quit this gupman- holdup business and make better profits with less danger?” Whta JI WAS a tense moment. The lit- we tle killer stood suspicious as a cat, = and his pistol-arm fairly twitched with menace. But curiosity won. He licked his lips. “‘Wadda you mean?” ‘“‘Why, I mean this: If you take the claim from me you can’t conceal it, can you? Sooner or Jater you'll have the whole gang on your back. The minute you start show- ing gold-dust it’s good-by. It’ll be just fight, fight, fight till some one downs you.” Tom stopped. The other came closer and poked the muzzle of the pistol into his stomach. The little killer’s eyes were glit- tering with suspicion, greed and curiosity. “Go on,” he snapped. “Say it quick. What’s your idea?” Tom racked his brain and evolved some- thing, speaking slowly. ‘““My idea is this: You’re in on the secret of the claim. You’re the only one except Pete and myself. You can’t do anything alone, but we can do a whole lot because nobody suspects us, so maybe we can figure out something and——” Tom’s nght hand flashed downward. It was his one desperate chance. He gam- bled that the hand is quicker than the eye. He gambled that the other had lost a little alertness and that an arm stiffens into a set position from holding a pistol. He won—by a hair. The pistol blasted the left side of his shirt and stung his fingers. He yanked at the thing desperately. He twisted the muzzle upward and around. The killer, quick as lightning, lashed his left hand backward for another pistol. Tom got around his right side and twisted‘ his wrist upward. He got a finger inside the trigger guard. The trigger was squeezed in the mélée. again. The little gunman’s tense body grew limp. Strength left his hand. Tom pinioned his arms till the weapons dropped to the ground. Then the little bandit was allowed to slump down. The whole front of his shirt was red. He sagged toa Athns position and glared at Tom with basilisk eyes. It was an SS—— COmiclbook The gun was discharged | CO