Adventure Magazine Cover — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

BC gs .% Z ‘* % ey Yi j Che 5 m7 fay N park of S heeter Bill Author of “Law Rustlers,” “Wise Men and a Mule,” etc. KEETER BILL” SARG stopped at the door of his tar-paper and lath shack and looked back at the street. Skeeter was cranelike in his proportions, his long legs were slightly bowed and his skinny hands hung well be- low his thighs. He was one of those solemn- looking individuals whose faces appear on the verge of either laughter or tears. Just now he seemed undetermined. He rubbed a skinny hand across his chin, spoke softly to himself and went into the house. It was a small shack. A broken mirror hung crookedly from the wall, a broken-top table was littered with dirty dishes. On a bunk, built into a corner of the room, sat a man of undeterminate age. His face was frowsy with gray stubble, his gray hair straggling down over his ears and turning up from his collar at the back of his neck. The man was of powerful frame, but whisky and the lack of ambition had turned him into a gross, greasy figure, bellied and jowled like a hog. In his hands he held a worn volume. Across the bridge of his nose rested a pair of steel-bowed spectacles, one of the lenses missing. Skeeter shut the door carefully and sat down on a broken chair. The fat man looked at Skeeter, squinting one eye shut Copyright, 1922, by the Ridgeway Company in the United States and Great Britain. and looking through the empty circle of steel. ‘““What cheer, Skeeter?”? The fat man’s voice was well modulated, although husky from continual libations. Skeeter shifted his cartridge-belt to bring the holstered gun across his lap. He rolled a cigaret slowly and thoughtfully before he replied. “T killed Jeff Billings a while ago, judge.” “Ah! Judge Tareyton closed his book softly and removed his glasses. He polished the lenses with a once-clean handkerchief, unmindful of the fact that one lens was missing. He replaced them, polished to his satisfaction, astride his nose. “Killed Jeff Billings, eh? A pity and still a blessing, Skeeter Bill. It has been brought to my notice that Billings was very instantaneous with a gun. My congratu- lations.” “It was a even break,’ said Skeeter slowly. “Brought about, no doubt, by what was done last night.” “He lied,’”’ said Skeeter simply. “Yes,” nodded the judge. ‘Yes, he would do that. I fear that Mr. Billings was a dishonest horse-thief. Mr. Leeds All rights reserved. 3 COMmicaoo® S C@ iin