Adventure Magazine Cover — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

Too Much Progress for Piperock After everybody is back from breakfast, old Sam Holt shows up. The bunch kinda crowds around him. “T has to come away,” informs Sam. “Ma’s goin’ t’ feed the strange lady, and she won’t allow nobody in the dinin’-room.”’ “Won’t allow nobody in the dinin’- room?” parrots Telescope. “She has her orders,” grins Sam. “Only one man is allowed to see her.” “One man?” asks Magpie. is that there man?” “Why, Chuck Warner, of course.” “Chuck Warner, of course,” nods Mag- pie, like a man talking in his sleep. “Sam, who “Chuck Warner,” wheezes Muley. “Of course.” ~ “Of course,” says Telescope. “Chuck Warner.” | Then we sets around and looks at each other. “Chuck Warner?” says Hen, like he was trying to remember somebody by that name. “Works for the Cross J outfit,” says I. “Kind of handsome somére. You must remember him, men.” “Oh-o-o-oh, yeah,”’ nods Telescope, fussing with his gun. “Chuck Warner.” Yasq MAGPIE gets up, yawns and walks KO) slow-like out of the door. Art Miller kinda saunters out, and then Telescope seems to desire fresh air. Muley kinda groans and starts to get up, but them three orders of ham and aigs has sort of depressed him, and he sinks back into his chair. He takes out a piece of paper and a pencil and begins to write. You’ve got to hand it to Muley when it comes to poetry. In about fifteen minutes Magpie, Telescope and Art drifts back, and the three of ’em Imes up at the bar. “Here’s hopin’ he breaks a leg,” Magpie. “Or splits a hoof,” adds Art. “Who yuh wishin’ all such luck to?” asks Hen. “Chuck Warner,’ - says Telescope. “He’s—Ma Holt wouldn’t let us in, but we peeked in the winder and seen Chuck dancin’ a war-dance for the lady.” “T’ll dance for her!” says Muley. “T’ll dance Chuck’s scalp for her. Why won’t Mrs. Holt let anybody in?” “She’s got her orders,” says old Sam. says 77 Just then “Scenery” Sims, the sheriff, comes in. Scenery is a squeaky little runt, and suspicious of everything and everybody. Magpie gets right up, takes Scenery by the arm and leads him outside. “Now,” says Telescope, “what kind of a frame-up has Magpie got under his hair?” We hears Scenery say— “Aw-w-w, is that a fact, Magpie?” Magpie nods and jerks his head toward Holt’s place. Scenery nods, and they starts for the hotel, with me and Telescope, Art, Muley, Hen, “Half-Mile” Smith, “Dough- god” Smith, “Tellurium” Woods, “Mighty” Jones and Pete Gonyer. Magpie leads Scenery to a window of the dining-room, and they both peers in. Scenery looks at Magpie, kinda queer-like and nods his head. Then he tries to go in the door, but it’s locked. Mrs. Holt comes to the door and scowls at Scenery. “You can’t come in,” says she, and starts to shut the door; but Scenery shoves a foot inside and blocks it. “Mrs. Holt,” squeaks Scenery, “yo’re defyin’ the law. Actin’ thataway puts yuh liable for contempt of court.” “Well,” says she, kinda dubious-like, “mebbe that’s so, Scenery. I'll let you in, but the rest of you snake-hunters’ll have to stay outside.” “We bows to superior ma’am,” says Magpie. In about a minute here comes Chuck Warner with his hands in the air, and behind him marches Scenery with a gun poked into Chuck’s back. Chuck looks at us and says— “What’s the matter with this fool?”’ “Head for the jail!” squeaks. Scenery. “Head for the jail!” “Yowre crazy!” wails Chuck. “All right, all right,” squeaks Scenery. “We've both headed th’ same way.” Henrietta Harrison comes to the door, but Mrs. Holt shoves her back inside and shuts the door. intelligence, “Poor Chuck,” says Magpie. “Poor Chuck.”’ “Poor, !” howls Chuck. “I’m goin’ to kill somebody for this.”’- “Gettin’ violent, Scenery,” says Magpie. “Don’t take a chance.” “T’ll handle him, Magpie. Point for the jail, you scalp-dancin’ idjit.” Chuck took one look at us, and then headed for the jail, with Scenery trottin’ along after him. COnnicloool< (C@