Adventure Magazine Cover — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

Pay Gravel that they never last, that no mining town stands for such business very long?” “Easily. But so long as you allow al- most every other business site to be occu- pied by dance-hall, bawdy house, or gam- bling-hell you must expect a certain per cent. of your citizens will patronize them. But don’t you worry about me, mayor. [’m planning to be gone before you begin cleaning house.” “Tf Bandy Allen and you start any fight——_” “We shall not!’ warmly broke in Dins- dale. ‘‘If he comes across my path I'll take his guns away from him and send them to you. Don’t you fret any about that bow- legged cuss working up enough sand to run up against me.” “T’m afraid you’re hopeless,” sighed the mayor. “I’ve taken it on myself to warn you. You’ll do as you will, of course.”’ “But I haven’t killed any one yet,” pro- tested Dinsdale. ‘I’ve lost money at poker. Surely that doesn’t brand me as card-sharp. I’ve bought several million drinks, but your citizens drank them.” “ve heard about your throwing money away. The gulch is full of stories about you. They call you the ‘Greenback man,’”’ coldly retorted the mayor. ‘“‘No crime for a man to be open-handed, even with greenbacks,” lightly defended Dinsdale. “TI notice every one seems keen to get some of those greenbacks. Some of your leading business men have been aiter me.” “T’ve finished,” said the mayor, and bowing he passed on. Dinsdale’s happy-go-lucky mien changed to an expression of thoughtfulness as he slowly walked in the opposite direction. He was aroused from his meditation by a claw of a hand clutching his arm. He twisted clear easily and glared down into the pinched-up face of a camp bummer. “Say, boss, Bandy Allen’s down ahead, laving for you,’”’ croaked the unwashed. Dinsdale eyed him in grim amusement. The steady stare caused the creature to back away in much perturbation of spirit. Dinsdale snapped him a coin and ferociously warned him— “You tell any of your friends I gave you that and I’ll hunt you down and cut off your ears. I never forget a face, even a dirty one. Scoot!” With ludicrous haste the fellow raced up lil the street, the coin clutched in his hand, with a great fear clutching at his heart. With a dry chuckle Dinsdale continued his walk, and half aloud said: “They’re getting organized. Society for Warning Pete Dinsdale Against the Evil Plans of Bandy Allen. First chap babbled about his luck, now they’ll ambush me in relays.”’ He had scarcely come to this whimsical decision when another man glided from the doorway of a store and began— “Mr. Dinsdale, I want to warn you-——’ Dinsdale caught him by the collar of his ragged shirt and shot him back into the store. “Still trying to build up a name as a fighting man by ill-using bummers,” spoke up a rasping voice. Red of face Dinsdale turned and en- countered the scornful gaze of Mrs. Colt. Beside her and ducking her head in timor- ous welcome was Lottie Carl, trig and trim in new dress and serviceable shoes. “The man annoyed me, Mrs. Colt,” gravely answered Dinsdale. Lottie Carladvanced to greet him, but the widow swung her back from contamination. Dinsdale sorrowfully returned her troubled gaze, lifted his hat to Mrs. Colt and hurried on. For an hour thereafter it would have been hazardous for any one to have in- truded upon his affairs. He had treated all his experiences as jokes, but the meeting with the widow and Lottie Carl cut him deeper than he cared to admit to himself. Consequently he was in a bad humor as he walked back to the Bed Rock and all but ran into Kitty the Schemer. He touched his hat and stepped aside, but she blocked his path and complained— “Isn’t any of your wealth to come to poor me, Mr. Bad-Man?”’ “T’m taking them alphabetically and haven’t reached the S’s yet,” he gravely explained. “Joe says you play poor cards,” she sweetly informed him. ‘Joe ought to know. He was in the game when I was trimmed.” “Tf I tell him that he won’t lke your saying it.” He smiled cynically and assured her: “You can’t make bad blood between Joe and me. So long as I don’t fall in love with you Joe won’t sniff any battle smoke.”’ ‘Don’t be too sure of that,” she warned. “Tf you’re not in love, Joe is.” ) COnmicloool< (©