Adventure Magazine Cover — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

The Sheriff “Was yuh thinkin’ of takin’ ’em away from me?” queried Brick, but Seldon did not answer. “Brick sure is organized,”’ observed Lynn Barnhardt, pointing at the two horseshoes tied to Brick’s saddle. “Whatcha do, Brick—put ’em on your bronc when yuh get ready to start down hillP Betcha he’s got the uphill shoes on his bronc now.” ‘“‘Barefooted now, Lynn,”’ smiled Brick. ‘Level goin’. Some system, eh?” ‘“‘This thing has got to be kind of a —— nuisance,’ observed Seldon. ‘What I fig- ured on was to warn them sheep-herders to take their sheep and vamoose. We can’t go chasin’ them sheep all over the country, can we?” “Reckon I ough to turn ’em loose and Zindly ask ’em to take their sheep away?”’ Brick :aughed at Seldon and shook his head. “Nope, your idea is all wrong, Seldon. [’m goin’ to put them two specimens in jail; sabe?” ‘“‘There’s no need of a warnin’,”’ said Dai Melchior, ‘“‘bein’ as there ain’t nobody to warn. It won’t take us long to dispose of two hundred sheep.” “T know a high cliff,’ observed Barney O’Mera meaningly. “Do yuh think it would be legal for us to kill off them sheep?” asked Seldon seiiously. Brick locked at Seldon and then around at the other men. “Well, Lain’t no lawyer, Seldon. I swore to uphold the law, yuh understand? If the owner of them sheep will ask me to protect *em——” BRICK Icoked ai the two tired prisoners, but neither gave any /@N (iPS sign that he had heard. Brick ‘shook his head. “T reckon they’re willin’, gents. I'll ask the first lawyer I meet for rulin’ on the case. Somehow these two sheep-owners act plumb willin’ to get a divorce from them woolies. I’m goin’ to have a little talk with ’em soon.’ Brick motioned to his two prisoners and they got up. Brick grinned at Seldon, and then rode past the horsemen, following his prisoners, with never a backward look. Then Brick enjoyed his first good laugh since Scott Martin had been shot. The two prisoners looked back at him and ex- changed glances of wonderment. of Sun-Dog 161 “T ain’t been so tickled since I wore a knit shirt,’ chuckled Brick. ‘‘Didja notice the look on Jeff Seldon’s face? He’s goin’ out and help kill his own sheep. Ha, ha, ha!” The prisoners stared at him, and the big one spoke. ‘‘Which one was Seldon, sheriff?” “Don’t try to be funny,” advised Brick. ‘You know him well.” ‘‘Honest to —— we don’t,” stated the little fellow. ‘‘You’re wrong there. I never heard of Seldon.” The man’s voice and actions were convincing. Brick studied the two men and then motioned them to go ahead. “Will yuh tell me who owns the sheep?” asked Brick. ‘“‘No—not unless you'll believe that we do,” said the big man. “T don’t,” said Brick. sheep-herders nor cow-punchers. know what you are.”’ ‘IT do,” said the little man. “What?” asked Brick. “Pair of fools!” “We all have our little failin’s,” said Brick, but he was not thinking of the sheep- herder’s reply. He had been sure that Sel- don owned the sheep. Seldon hated the cattle association— hated cow-men, although a cattleman him- self. He had told Brick he hoped the sheep would run the cattlemen out of the country. All the cattlemen knew that the sheep must come eventually, but they were determined to fight the issue as long as possible. “Who else could it be?’ wondered Brick. ‘Seldon hates the association and would do anything to put ’em out of business in Sun-Dog. Seldon hates me. Does he want “Vou fellers ain’t I don’t to mix me up in a cattle and sheep war and ~ get me killed off?” Brick wondered over these problems, as they went slowly along under the hot sun. The herders had denied knowing Seldon, and Brick felt that they were not lying. There was no question in his mind but that it was sort of a test case on the part of some Sun-Dog rancher. The men had said there were two hundred head of sheep in the band. “‘Voorhies hates me, too,” grinned Brick to himself. ‘‘Voorhies don’t want anybody that he can’t boss. Voorhies don’t like that maverick idea, a-tall—and Voorhies has sold a lot of beef in the last few months.” Brick herded his prisoners down the main street of Marlin City; thereby causing GOMIGoOO S (© iin