Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

The Silent Captain The ranch owners are pretty near agreein’.”’ ‘“‘There’s one or two questions, though,” added Bennett. ‘‘There’s fellers like Curry. Think we oughta let ’em in on the general round-up?” “Why not?” asked Wilcox. “I under- stand the purpose of a round-up is to separ- ate and tally the animals. We can tally Curry’s with the rest.”’ George Minden looked at the grave, drab, bearded stranger who owned this ranch- house. ‘Have you any special purpose in that?” questioned Minden. “Only curiosity.” “I’m cur’ous, too,’ admitted Bennett. “Some ranches is growin’ too fast here- abouts!’ “Mine isn’t,” grunted Wilcox. Minden’s pleasant face was drawn and thin these days, as if from worry and per- plexity. He drummed on the table. “Tt never will!’ he blurted. “Confound it, Wilcox, you oughtn’t to be in the cattle business. You don’t understand it. Vil advise you to sell out while you’ ve got something to sell!” The quiet host wasn’t angry. a twinkle in his eye. “T will admit my limitations, gentlemen, but I took charge of the ranch. I can not turn back.” - Minden tossed up his hands and snorted. “VYou’re beaten, but you don’t know it. It’s a losing fight. I hate to see it!” “Then why stand by and watch? Why not join together? All of us?” “What? No! I couldn’t help you up and you’d drag me down. You’d drag us all down. You’d be the weak link in the chain. The odds are too big for you. There’s things you don’t understand.” Minden’s forehead creased and he slammed a fist on the table. ‘‘There’s too many of ’em! Too many! It was a mistake to let 7em into the country! If you wanted to There was fight you should have come a year ago! You’re too late! before you start!”’ Wilcox kept smoking. “Try one of these cigars,” gested. Minden spluttered. “These fellows are dangerous and you’re blind—blind—blind! You haven’t rubbed up against ’em yet. Some day they'll come and you'll find out!” Man, you’re whipped he sug- 25 ONE OF them arrived next day, of riding a beautiful black horse and jingling with spurs, six-shooters and all the accouterments of a cow-country dandy. It was Jake Curry, with his broad- brimmed hat tied snugly under his lean Jaw. Old Man Shay had caused Curry’s visit. Shay had talked about the trip to the mountains and the finding of the Painted Valley. It was another mistake. The news trickled to the range and told the rustlers that their nest was discovered. It also fur- nished a possible clue to the fate of Rodri- gues, who had disappeared. His absence puzzled the range. When Curry arrived Wilcox chose to sit behind the long table of the ranch-house like a skipper giving an interview to a deck- hand. ‘““Well?” he asked. “T hear you’ve been prowlin’ around the hills some.” “Well?” ‘“‘Where’s Rodrigues?” “‘T do not know.” “You don’t know nothin’ about SM much, do you?” The silent boss stared. There was no emotion or drama about it. He just stared. The freebooter with the tense face rolled a cigaret. “T reckon you better loosen your jaw a little,’ he observed. ‘‘You’re on a trail that ain’t healthy.”’ “T will be the judge of that.” “Oh, will you? I reckon you’re bein’ the judge of this here editor, too, ain’t you? Keepin’ him here, ain’t you? All right. Listen here, you! You'll send that editor away and gimme a line on Rodrigues or somethin’s goin’ to happen muy pronto. Savvy? We ain’t goin’ to waste much time on the likes of you! You'll be a little more sociable or else you won’t be around here a-tall. You hear me talk?” “T hear you. Get out. You are inso- lent.” “What?” shrieked the gunman. ‘“In- solent?” The right hand of Curry slipped down to his six-shooter and he swung its ugly nose across the table while his voice grew silky. “T on folks don’t talk that way to me, mister!”’ The bearded ranch-owner looked dis- gusted. DOOLK C©