Adventure Magazine Cover — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

The Spark of Skeeter Bill 5 “Billings lied.” “Lied?” gasped Leeds. It was preposterous. Leeds gawped around the room, as if asking’the inanimate sporting celebrities to make note of such a foolish reason. His eyes came back to Skeeter. “You killed him because he lied?”’ “Uh-huh,” indifferently. Leeds chewed viciously on his cigar, studying the lanky cowpuncher. ‘““What did he lie about, Sarg?” “You ought to know,’’ meaningly. ‘You told him what to say, Leeds.”’ Leeds’ face flushed purple and his hand twitched toward the gun on the table, but stopped. Skeeter was watching that hand, a half-smile on his lips. ‘“‘Go ahead,” grinned Skeeter. ‘‘Yo’re old enough to know what yuh want to do with yo’re own skin.” Leeds tried to laugh, but it caught in his throat and he coughed hoarsely. “T told Jeff to lie to you? Why should I want him to he to you, Sarg?” “To save yuh money. Billings packed that Solomon clean-up to yuh, while me and Blondy and the Kid blocked them miners. I hefted that sack m’self, Leeds. Them miners never killed Blondy and the Kid, and it wasn’t no miner what shot at me on Little Boy Trail. Billings said there wasn’t nothin’ but black sand in them sacks.” Leeds licked his lips and shook his head. “Them miners must ’a’ got Blondy and the Kid, Sarg. I never hired nobody to shoot at you.” “You ain’t spoke about the clean-up,” reminded Skeeter. Leeds shook his head. “No, I ain’t. You’ve made up your mind that we lied to you, and you’re bull- headed about it. Them miners foxed us, don’t yuh know it?” Skeeter Bill smiled and shook his head. He knew that Leeds was lying. No doubt Leeds had all of that cleanup and intended keeping it. . ‘Look here,” said Leeds. ‘‘Billings is gone and I need a man to take his place. Let’s me and you talk turkey.” Skeeter shook his head. “Nope. If I took Billings’ place I’d have to lie, and I won’t lie to nobody. Sabe?” Leeds removed his cigar and stared open- mouthed. “Well, my ——, what if you do have to lie? Is lying any worse than stealin’ horses or stickin’ up a stage or a bank?” “There ain’t nothin’ worse’n. lyin’,” statéd Skeeter seriously. ‘Robbin’ banks or stages or liftin’ broncs is just a kind of a livin’, but lyin’—yuh can’t trust nobody what tells lies, Leeds.” ‘“You’d be a good man for the job,” in- sisted Leeds. “No-o-o,”’ drawled Skeeter. “I won’t lie for you nor anybody else. I don’t need to split with you nor any other horse-thief. I work alone after this. I was fool enough to work for you, and I got lied to and robbed.’ Skeeter stepped in closer and leaned across the desk. “Youre a dirty, lyin’ coyote, Leeds! You and your pack of sidewinders can go to ! I work alone; sabe?” ‘Work alone, will yuh?” Leeds snarled like an animal. “No, yuh don’t, Sarg! Sunbeam belongs to me, and what I says goes. You get that drunken lawyer pardner of yours and vamoose. [ll give yuh—” Leedsseemed to choke with wrath— “Tl give yuh five hours to git out of range.” Sarg laughed. In fact he grew con- vulsed with mirth, while Leeds panted and spluttered. It was too much. Leeds flung himself on to the table, clawing for the gun, but Skeeter’s open palm caught him on the ear and shoved him off his balance so that he crashed to the floor. Came a knock at the door, and a man entered. He stopped and looked at the tableau. inquiringly. Leeds got slowly to his feet, his face very white, and faced the man. The man nodded to Skeeter, then turned to Leeds. ‘Palo just come in, Leeds. He said there’s a four-wagon outfit due to hit Poplar Springs tonight. Four on each wagon and a couple of extras. Palo says they’s only enough men to handle the teams.”’ Leeds nodded, seemingly unable to speak. The man sensed the enmity between Leeds and Skeeter, but continued— ‘Palo says the stock looks good.” Leeds nodded again and spoke. “Send the boys to me as fast as they come in. Billings died this afternoon.” “Died? How—killed?”’ “Lied himself to death,” drawled Skeeter. The man stared at Skeeter and then at Leeds. “T'll tell the boys to come here,”’ he said nervously, and went out the door. GOMIGooOo S (C@