Adventure Magazine Cover — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

The Sheri They drifted on for a while and stopped; looked back, and swung back into the hills. } BRICK’S patience was rewarded. Pt In about fifteen minutes three riders aa left the ranch and swung up the road toward Brick. One of them was evi- dently Jeff Seldon, as his pinto was easily distinguished at that distance. Brick rode off the grade and down into a tangle of mesquite, where he was effectually screened from the road. As they rode swiftly past him, he recognized Seldon and Pete Kane; but the third man was a stranger. As soon as they were out of sight. Brick rode back to the grade and went slowly toward town. He had no idea why the three riders were in such a hurry. Perhaps they figured on overtaking him and getting the yearlings. Brick did not make any search for the Herefords, knowing that they now headed into the hills. At any rate, they were of no value to him. They had been an excuse for a visit to Jeff Seldon, and the visit had turned out very well. Brick did not hurry back to Marlin City. He rode slowly to where the road led off to the Weeping Tree, scanning the road carefully for a sign of the missing toe-calks, but there were none. Seldon, Kane and the stranger had ridden two shod horses and one barefooted one. On the saddled ones the toe and heel calks were plainly visible. Brick wanted to go to the Weeping Tree, but after due deliberation went on to town. Protesting his innocence would not do him any good. In fact Brick did not want to protest his innocence—he wanted to prove it by finding the guilty parties. As he rode into town he noticed that there was an unusually large number of saddle- horses at the hitch-rack beside the Dollar Down; but this was Saturday, which would account for that. Brick had intended to go to the office, but when he saw Seldon’s pinto at the hitch-rack he changed his mind and went to the saloon. Pete Kane and the stranger were just coming to the door, as Brick stepped inside. As Brick stepped aside to let them pass, Kane spoke to the stranger. turned his head toward Kane, and then appeared to stumble into Brick; his toe striking Brick’s ankle. The man had The man‘ of Sun-Dog 155 stumbled on a smooth floor and had gone entirely out of his way to collide with Brick. For a moment they were face to face, but the stranger’s eyes held no hint of apology, rather he appeared to blame Brick. Brick made as though to pass on into the saloon, but his right foot swung sidewise, catching around the stranger’s ankle, throw- ing him completely off his balance and he crashed to the floor. Brick had barely stopped in his stride and now he faced Kane, who had stopped just inside the door, and the fallen man, who was sitting on the floor staring at Brick. The man was taller than Brick, but of about the same weight. His features and complexion stamped him as a Spaniard or a Mexican. He wore a small, well-trimmed mustache on his short upper lip. His nose was prominent and his close-set eyes were very black. He was a trifle overdressed; his range clothes extreme in color and cut. A businesslike gun reposed in a stamped leather holster on his hip, and his heavy, wide belt was well filled with cartridges. He glanced around at the crowd and got slowly to his feet. Kane was almost behind him as he got up, but stepped quickly out of line with Brick, who was standing easily, feet braced and hand swung idly beside the holster of his gun. He appeared to hold little animosity toward Brick, and his mouth twisted into a semblance of a grin. Then he turned and went out. “‘Quitter!” grunted a voice in the group. Brick turned and looked at them. His eyes singled out Seldon. ““Quitter?’’ queried Brick wonderingly. “Started it, didn’t he?” asked Seldon quickly. Brick grinned. ‘’Pears to me like he did, Seldon. ‘Who is he?” asked Brick. ‘“‘Name’s Smith—Jack Smith,” replied Seldon. “Horse buyer for the English army.” Brick considered this, and turned back to the door. Lafe Freeman and Bunch Thornton came up to Brick and asked him to step outside. They were both very serious. “Brick, I’m plumb scared that they’re goin’ to ask yuh to resign,” stated Lafe. ‘Lot of these snake-hunters think you shot Scott Martin, and nothin’ will stop ’em thinkin’ that—except findin’ the guilty ones.” “Y’m for yuh, Brick,” said Bunch. “T’ll GO OOO S (© inn