Adventure Magazine Cover — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

Crockett lighted a match—he had lost his electric torch long before. “All right, Indian,” he laughed shakily, _. “lay off that jasper or you'll croak him and I want him alive! Let’s tot up-the ee casualties.”’ BD Barker was not dead, but he was sitting es within the shadows of the grim gate. Just how badly he was shot up remained for closer examination to reveal. - Crockett, aside from his shattered shoul- der, was all right, and the Indian was un- wounded—although Crockett fairly howled in hysteric mirth at the spectacle the Pima - presented. ROTI NiDy Ck no, you don’t! Nothing like you was ever seen before!” ‘The Indian’s face split with a painful grin, which added to his weird aspect, then sobered swiftly. _ “We'd better get our car loaded with the relics of the battle and pull out!” he asserted. “Barker needs help bad! And he’s got to have it sudden! I know an old squaw—she’s good at Indian surgery—we better go to her place first, then to the agency. Inspector Shane will be waiting there for us.” Somehow they got things shipshape and started, with poor Barker, the dead boot- legger, ‘and the living prisoner, the last- named shackled securely, wrists and ankles, loaded into the tonneau. - 3 Inez emerged from her hut at their hail, He Side int IRS RA WS ni ee NL Lip ph Le erate Ue de te he Ma 5 do) vs ~ hs RO ee oo: SUES g WA -) p. 4 “re, pads Atay ‘27 i been sleeping a minute before. Very few words sufficed. - Crockett was amazed at the quiet, ~ efficient manner with which she went over - Barker and himself. “By ——!” he told her, admiringly. “T believe poor old Matt’ll make a live of it now! ou’d better come with us to the agency.” When they reached their destination they _ found the house all lighted up. Shane hurried out. ““Who’s that?” he challenged. sharply. “Crockett, Barker, a dead man and a prisoner—likewise, two Indians,” replied the Pima, slipping from behind the wheel. - aS ie aT eal ca Yi have Leesa er iW alee st ® hae we aor et ry ihe - a5 Fwy ” he vy S " & ~ : ——!” said Shame. Out of chaos—order. Shane was speaking in a voice low but furious. “Kyle, you infernal scoundrel! I knew you were inefficient, I was sure you were as) “a ait s 2 = ‘7 ~ 4 B- Ses: "e - = c 3 Sc ~ a aS my “My gosh!’ he gasped. “You look hike her eyes as bright as though she had not Adventure crooked, and I knew you were a. petty tyrant—but I did not dream that even you would so foully betray the trust reposed in you by a too confiding Government. “Even Brunson, your dead partner, was not so utterly contemptible as you. He was a trader, but you—selling that filthy slop to the Indians whom you were placed here to protect Shane- aakek then resumed in that same deadly, menacing tone: “Kyle, it isn’t in you to comprehend just how low you are in the scale of evolution. Take him out‘ of my sight!” - And-as harsh hands were laid upon the man who had proven false to his trust, old Inez stepped in front of him, holding out her right hand, palm up. “Hol’ on!’ she commanded, go, you pay me feefty dolla’! -Come ’cross!” Kyle stared at her out of smoldering eyes. ““Whaddo I owe you fifty dollars for, you old she-wolf?”’ he mumbled sullenly. “Vou say one time—” George Two-Deers come back on reserva- tion, you pay me" feefty dolla’ for tell you-—” Whirling about, she pointed to the Indian buck who stood half-naked, his face battered and bruised, one eye shut, his clothing nearly dropping off, and his upper lip so swollen that it made a flush surface with the tip of his nose. “Me tell now!” she screeched. ‘‘Him’s ae You pay me feefty dolla’ "fore you go jal ee George tried to grin at Kyle, but the rae was so hideous that even Inez shud- ered. 9 TWO weeks later, Inspector Shane ma and the newly appointed agent drew up before the jacal of Inez. They had come to confirm George’s allot- ment. Shane nodded to himself as who should say— ““T-knew it!” Seated on the ground, face to face, were a very aged Pima lady, and a very young one, holding continuous session of “‘ Mutual Admiration Society, Local No. One!” There is an ancient Pima proverb which says— 3 “Provoke the rattlesnake, and escape unscathed, but incur not the wrath of the aged!” comichook “ Fore you — she jeered—‘if © (E@)