Adventure Magazine Cover — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

78 We all went back to the saloon. Pretty soon Scenery comes from the jail, and he’s’ got a beautiful black eye, where Chuck walloped him. Scenery is peeved. Old Judge Steele shows up, kinda ponderous- like, and Scenery explains the whole thing as far as he knows. “Loco parenthesis,’ says the judge. “Reverted to sex. I always knowed there was aboriginal corpuscles in his arterial system. He is non compos menits.” “Lignum vile,” nods Magpie. “Exactly,” says the judge. ‘You stated the case, Magpie. Who is the lady in the case?” “Name’s_ Incognito,” © says “Incognity, alzas Harrison.” “Hah!” says the judge, serious-like. ‘“This will need fimesse. I shall go over to the hotel and have speech with the maid.” & of the law, too, but anyway he got in. Me and Muley went out and sat on the sidewalk, when here comes Mrs. Steele and Mrs. Wick Smith. ‘“Have you seen anything of the judge?”’ asks Mrs. Steele. “Yeah,” nods Muley. Holt’s to see a lady.” “Oh!” says Mrs. Steele, looking at Mrs. Smith. “Men,” says Mrs. Smith, ‘men are con- siderable alike, and a judge ain’t no dif- ferent than the rest.” “That old cormorant?” explodes Mrs. Steele. ‘The only difference is—he’s worse.” “We've got to unite,” says Mrs. Smith. “A united front must be showed. Let’s go and talk to Mrs. Tilton before Testament falls from grace.” They toddles up the street, headed for Tilton’s place. But Old Testament wasn’t home. I reckon he was kinda snooping around, ’cause he comes out from behind Pete’ Gonyer’s blacksmith shop and walks up to us. “What was them womin talkin’ about, Brother Ike?” he asks. “They’ve gone up to hold a war-talk with your wife, Testament. Appears that there’s a united conspiracy against the lady what come yesterday. They’ ve gone to warn your wife, I reckon.” “Tove’s - labor’s lost,” says Testament, sad-like. ‘She don’t need warnin’, Where is said lady?” Telescope. I RECKON he got in in the name “He at over to Adventure ‘=. “Wer and Judge Steele are holdin’ a con- . ference over in Holt’s place. go over and add your spiritual presence, Testament,” says Muley. “T might,” nods Testament. “I’m sure ready and willin’ to pass spiritual advice. A man of spiritual knowledge is always needed.” Testament’s last words were kinda faint, as he was hittin’ the trail to Holt’s front door. “Paw,.’ says Muley, sad-like, ‘“Paw wanted me to study for the ministry. Seems like a minister can git into places where a cow- puncher can’t.” Mrs. Holt met him at the door and let him in. Pretty soon we sees Mrs. Steele, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Gonyer, Mrs. Wheeler and Mrs. Tilton. They comes down the sidewalk toward us. Me and Muley starts to go into the saloon, but Mrs. Tilton yelps at 1S— “Henry Peck, do you know where my husband is?” ‘““Hle—he’s givin’ spiritual advice to a lady,” says Muley. “T suppose Pete Gonyer is measurin’ her for a pair of horseshoes,” says Mrs. Gonyer, mean-like. ‘“‘And maybe Wick is tryin’ to sell her a bill of groceries,” says Mrs. Smith. “T seen Art curryin’ his horses,” states Mrs. Wheeler. “He ain’t curried one of ’em since he owned them four horses—and he greased his boots this mornin’.”’ “Here comes Mrs. Holt,” says Mrs, Steele. ‘‘Mebbe she brings news.” Mrs. Holt was all out of breath, and them women didn’t seem inclined to let her get any of it back. Magpie and Telescope comes out of the saloon and moves in close. “IT hopes to die!’ gasps Mrs. Holt. “I hopes to die!” “Youre got a cinch,” says Telescope. © “We all have to.” ‘Them females gives Telescope one gosh- awful look, and then surrounds Mrs. Holt, who gasps out her story. ‘“‘She—she’s dancin’ for Testament and the judge—barefooted!”’ “No!” declares five female voices at once. “Yes! Her and the judge has a long talk and I heard ’em. She tells him that Pipe- rock don’t appreciate art.” “My Art?” asks Mrs. Wheeler. “T don’t know. Lemme talk, will you? The judge said he longed for the day when COMMICLOOOKS Yuh might © (C@)