Adventure Magazine Cover — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

_titude. eae act. = _ for killin’ them two sheepherders. = ~ know what that means; whether you’re -Vincie said softly and unexpectedly. “You = should never have gone after those sheep- herders with a gun. * “Neither should you have placed yourself in such a position by going to Hasbrouck’s ranch that you were pelled to killa man. But more foolish n all, except your staying here with us, © was that trip back there, risking your life for a mere piece of land.” Dal was totally unprepared for that at- It was as if she thought her culture and education placed her on a 3 plane above him, from whence she could unerringly pick out a suitable course of action without so vulgarsa thing as a resort to violence. That was the way it appealed to him, as setting up a barrier between them under the guise of sympathy. He had - _ never expected for a moment to get senti- mental. No matter what he might think = _ of her he accepted the social gulf between them as unbridgeable, but it nettled him Ee to have that gulf emphasizéd. He floun- dered into a defense. . “That piece of land back there meant a : iot to me, an’ I mortally hate to be licked. I may be foolish and all that but I’m goin’ __— to play the same game till I either git the goods on Hasbrouck that'll clear me up, or till they git, me.” “Then you are going to stay around Silver Zone in spite of the danger?” Vincie asked. “T sure am,” he declared warmly. “TI—I like men who are courageous es enough to do foolish things which they know to be foolish,” the girl admitted while a wave of color swept over her face. With a muttered excuse that her father needed her she passed into the other room. “Showalter,” Sawyer said slowly, “TI hate to enter a game against a man when I’ve got all the advantage, but in this case I’m goin’ to. Bently girl but I’m goin’ to beat your time.” ‘_——. man, she’s not in my class—yours either,” Dal blurted. “Naturally you figure that way,” Vic went on unperturbed. “Just the same if you was goin’ to stay here there’d be danger eo of them class lines dissolving, but you’re _ not goin’ to stay.” . “Noe” Dal queried curiously. The reason is because if you do you'll be decoratin’ the inside of a jail You _ Builty or not, you’ll swing.” Adventure You’ve got a case on the . “You aimin’ to let ’°em know where I am?” Dal asked quietly. “Not me,” Vic denied swiftly. “You done me a good turn, an’ I like you, not- withstandin’ we both like the same girl. What [’m doin’ is givin’ you your only chance to save your neck.” - Dal smiled incredulously. “Listen; durin’ the last two years there have been nineteen sheepherders murdered in the three states where the Sheepgrowers’ Association is organized.. The murderers of sixteen of ’em have been convicted, an’ every one of.’em was hard to catch, Every man was nabbed, an’ the evidence against him gathered by one man. _ The other three’ cases he didn’t handle. That man was a crack Texas Ranger, but now he’s hired by the association solely to defend it against lawless ¢attlemen an’ ranchers. He’s cold blooded as a coyote an’ no more feelin’ than one. Name’s Pet Bradley. Ever hear of him?’ Sawyer was watching Dal narrowly. Dal had heard of Bradley, particularly in connection with his sensational arrest of Goldfield Jack, a hired gunman who had long terrorized sheepherders on a certain range. “You mean, I suppose, that this here wonder man is sure to be on my trail,” Dal said. “Exactly. There’s no doubt that he’s lookin’ for you. The only reason he ain’t been on your trail before is because he’s been. onan emergency job out in Wyoming. Now he’s called out on another emergency job, an’ it’ll bring him to Silver Zone inside a week,”’ Vic stated. Unconsciously Dal gave a jerk. It is no pleasant sensation to know that a human bloodhound is on your track. But when he spoke his voice was quiet enough. “You mean that Bradley is the man that’s gomin’ here to help you hold the spring.” “Yes; I specially requested the associa- tion to send him, an’ they promised they would. Remember, I had no idea he was after you when I sent for him,” Vic urged anxiously, lifting himself on his elbow to watch Dal more intently. ‘“‘There’s this much about it, though: as soon as he hits Hog-up he’ll know that you have been at Silver Zone. I’m sorry, but it ain’t my fault.” : “No; it ain’t youn fault,” Dal agreed readily. 20) (e(6) DOOK