Adventure Magazine Cover — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

138 the section of the genus Pinus was the means of saving my life. Several times after securing it I felt the deadly hipwiggler travel my entire length, only to fall off the log in surprize. It was a sensation I can not wish for again, but one I feel fortunate to have experienced. I thank you for your timely advice.” Magpie smoothed his mustache and stared at me and we both danged near choked. Ajax sure offered himself as a high- way for pack-rats that night. Then cometh Judge Steele. He’s the educatedest hombre in the county. If there’s anything he don’t know he won’t admit it. He owns half-interest in a claim up the creek, and is on his way up there with a pack-load of grub for his pardner. We asks him in to breakfast ’cause you never can tell when you’ll need the friend- ship of a judge. “Good morning,’ says he to me and Magpie, and then he sees Ajax. ‘Good gosh!” “Howdy, judge,” says Magpie. “Set in on the bacon.” “Ah!” says Ajax. “A judge. Are you an LL.B.?” “Wope. Missourian and a stanch Repub- lican.”’ “Ah! It is refreshing to meet an educated man in the wilds. Where did you matricu- late, may I ask?”’ ‘(Where did I what?” “Matriculate.” “T’m on my way to my mine, and I started from Piperock, if it’s anybody’s danged business.’’- And then he turns to Magpie. “Friend of yours?” “Liability, judge. He’s trailing some- . thing that ain’t here nor never was.” “Huh! What’s he after?” “You tell him, Ajax. Something about strangling the——”’ “Tt is not a subject to cause levity,” chides Ajax. ‘Is there any reason why I should not come here to study the effects of astragalas splendens on the genus Ovius?”’ The judge stands up to drink his coffee and then goes out to his horses. ‘‘What do you think, judge?” I asks. He picks up the lead rope of his pack- horse and ponders the question. “Tke, I hate to give out a judicial reply as I might be called upon to render a deci- Adventure sion from the bench, but I'll say this much: Any jury in Yaller Rock County would convict him without leaving their seats.” He gets on his horse and pilgrims off up the trail. “How quaint,” grins Ajax. ‘Ts he really a presiding judge or did he simply acquire the title as many Westerners are reputed to have?”’ “I believe he is,” says Magpie. “Danged if I don’t believe he is.” “Ts what?” asks Ajax. “Right.” “Ah, no doubt,” agrees Ajax foolish-like, and we let the matter rest. Ajax puttered around for a while and then came to us. ‘May I—er—have a piece of rope? Three yards will be sufficient.” “Plenty,” agrees Magpie pleased-like. ‘“You know how to tie the proper kind of a knot?” “I— Perhaps not, but——” ‘The pleasure is all mine,” says Magpie. Ajax looks the knot over interested-like. “Beg pardon, but will you tell me why you wound the rope around so many times?” ‘Thirteen times,’ says Magpie. “Any sheriff knows how. Now, do you want us to elevate the wagon-tongue or do you prefer a limb?” Ajax’s mouth hangs open for a full minute, and then he seems to catch the point. ‘He, he, he! You—you thought perhaps I wanted to make a—er—a swing, I believe they call them. You were spoofing me, I fear. No, I thank you.” And he wandered away across the hills alone. ‘‘Tke,”’ says Magpie, “‘were you spoofing? A swing! My ie We worked for a while but can’t seem to get Ajax out of our minds. The blamed fool might get lost or bit by a snake. Sidewinders don’t respect educa- tion. After a while Magpie says: ‘‘Tke, if it wasn’t for Middleton I’d let the blamed fool sink or swim, survive or perish, but I'd hate to rob Middleton of a chance to hear Ajax tell his experiences. Reckon we better pesticate around a little and see where he went. I’d admire to find out what he’s after.” “He said it was the effects of—” I began, but Magpie looked at me with his sweet smile and I shut up. NOOK C@