Adventure Magazine Cover — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

BUNTY BLAIR hailed him from the saloon porch, as he came into town, asking of news from Martin. Bunty looked queerly at Brick, as Brick was unable to tell him anything further than that the doctor was probing for the bullet. Brick found ‘‘Harp”’ Harris humped up in the doorway of the office, solemn of face and dejected of figure, trying to coax a tune from his jew’s-harp. Nature had violated a precedent when she fashioned Harp Harris. In physique, he was a perfect ‘tine from his bat-ears to his ankles. An artist or sculptor might have used Harp for the model of ‘‘The Lost Chord,” as he distorted his long, sad face over the efforts of breathing a tune into the most humble of instruments. Harp was foreman of the Nine Bar Nine outfit, and entirely capable, which spoke well of his lack of artistic temperament. He squinted up at Brick, but continued to “hung-g-g-g, hong-g’”’ for several seconds. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and got to his feet. The office door was shut. ‘““Where’s Silent?” asked Brick. Harp jerked his head toward the doorway. “Somebody kicked the door shut, when I started to play.” The door opened and Silent looked out. “Martin dead?” he asked quickly. “No.” Brick shook his head. ‘‘Hurt bad, though. Doc thinks he was shot with a .41. Who shoots a .41, Silent?” “You do,” Silent grinned, but sobered up as Brick nodded. ““Gee cripes, Brick, I didn’t mean “Looks kinda like I done it,” admitted Brick bitterly. “He had it comin’ then,” stated Harp. “Some folks do take goshawful chances in this here earthly spear. Got time to look at somethin’ I brought in?” Brick opened his mouth to question Harp, but he of the slabsides was already walking away. “Foller him,” advised Silent. ‘‘I’ll sneak along behind. If I can ever get him far enough away from town I’m goin’ to massacree him. The danged porkypine’s settin’ on the doorstep for an hour, hongin’ —— out of ‘After the Ball’.” ‘“Shucks,” drawled Harp. ‘You don’t know ‘Marchin’ Through Georgie’ from ‘Take Back Your Gold,’ you don’t.” “T heard yuh play ’em,” grunted Silent, “but that wasn’t all yuh played.” : 9) Adventure “T never played either of them,” grinned Harp. Silent rumbled threats of violence, as they followed Harp to a little corral, which had been built out from Cale Wesson’s barn. In the corral stood a red cow, while at her flank, huddling for protection, stood a spotted calf. The cow bore the brand of the Lazy H, while the little calf had been branded with a crude Weeping Tree. Brick studied the two brands silently. “{f picked ’em up when I was comin’ to town,”’ stated Harp. “It ain’t none of my business, but I sure do hate to see folks slappin’ a hot, runnin’- iron on a poor li'l calf thatawav. Been done a couple of days ago, I reckon.”’ ‘Bill Voorhies seen it?’’ asked Brick. “No. He’ll be sore, I bet.” “You heard about Scott Miartin, didn’t yuh, Harpe” “Only what Silent told me; and me and you both know Silent too well to——”’ Ordinarily, Brick would have enjoyed the word battles between Silent and Harp, and would have been willing to explain it to Harp, but just now he seemed tired of it all, and wordless. He was not even interested in this new evidence against Martin. Brick turned and walked back toward the street. Silent and Harp passed a look of mutual understanding, and followed him to the street, just as Lafe Freeman drove in with his buckboard, followed by Bunch Thornton and Lynn Barnhardt. Thornton and Barnhardt went into the saloon, but Freeman came over to Brick. ‘“‘Doc found the bullet,” said Lafe. “Forty-one?” asked Brick, and Lafe nodded. ‘“Wasn’t hardly battered none. Doc’s afraid it went so close to the spine that it might paralyze him. Martin ain’t conscious yet= Harp and Silent went slowly across the street to the saloon, and Brick watched them go inside before he turned to Lafe. “Lafe, I never shot Scott Martin.” Lafe drew out a plug of tobacco and set his teeth into the edge of it. “‘Zasso?”’ He rolled the tobacco into his cheek and squinted at Brick. “Did you think I did, Lafe?”’ = !”’ Lafe spat contemptuously. “In the back?”’ Lafe shook his head, and added, “But I ain’t everybody, Brick.” COmiclook S (©