Adventure Magazine Cover, December 10, 1922 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

“T’ll defend my property next time,” muttered Beach. ‘I may be killed, but no one will be asked to help me. ‘This is the first time I ever was in such a business, and it flustered me. Mr. Sessions, ’m much obliged to you, and I’d like to hear you preach.” “There’s something else, to be said,” spoke up another citizen. “When a game like this is tried no one knows just how many of the lawless cusses are in the crowd. Al- ways several. I didn’t know a soul when I stopped to look on. If I’d made a move to help the young man I should have expected a bullet or a knife in the back. Trouble is them cusses are organized and we ain’t.”’ “Hooray! You’ve said a very true word,” softly cried Griscom from the window. “Are you in town for long, young man?” asked Sessions. “Only long enough to do an errand for Holter, the lumber man at Virginia.” “Then finish your business and get back to your friends as soon as you can. And never try to draw again till you’ve practised a trifle. I do not carry, nor use, lethal weapons, but a man can be a Christian and still defend his life. Dll walk along with you for a bit if you don’t mind, young man.” “T’d be pleased,” promptly said Beach. “But you mustn’t go along for the sake of looking after me. Just as company.” The group melted away. Griscom van- ished from the window. Leading his horse, Beach made for the creek, the preacher striding along beside him. “You must have rich ground to work here,” remarked Beach. ‘A mining-camp isn’t a good place to hold revival meetings. Not because it is tough and rough and filled with bad-men, for those are the conditions I like to tackle. But because there is so much excitement over fights and robberies and gold dis- coveries, so much suffering and misery among those who strike out alone to locate pay-gravel, that man’s capacity for being surprized, deeply touched or repentant is largely used up before the Word is brought to them. “Talk to them about hell, and they have been through it. It’s like making an ap- peal to a man suffering from hysteria. But I’m sticking it out so long as.they’ll come to the meetings. There are children Wi eeneless ee here, and perhaps I can do good chronales them. Now tell me about yourself.” Beach explained his errand and related his experiences in reaching the town. At — the mention of Ives’ name the eon S a sighed. and said: a “‘He’s a man of fine parts if he would use them. He’s educated. He was meant for good things. But the rough-and-tumble style of living and the sight of much gold being paraded through the streets have spoiled him. He’ll come to a bad end, I fear. — “T talked with him once. He was very _ polite, but I couldn’t get any response. He wouldn’t admit, or deny, that he was lead- ing a wicked life. He simply said he had ‘gone too far’ to change. The saddest con- _ fession a man can make. Zs “T think the cabin right ahead belongs to Jesson. Ill stay outside and watch your horse for you.” “oe The cabin door was open, and on hearing his name called Jesson appeared and asked _ Beach in. Jesson was small of statureand carried his head cocked on one side. He eyed Beach suspiciously and curtly asked— “What do you want?” = “To buy eighty feet or more of six-inch, —— two-ply belting that I understand you ~— have.” i - “Huh! Appears like you was quite familiar with my affairs. Who told youl ~— had it?” Fo P ‘““A man in Virginia City. a “What you so sly about? What’s his name?” Ses Beach was remembering Holter’s injunc- tion on names, but it was obvious he would be ordered from the cabin unless he an- 5 _— swered, and he designated Holter. eee ye Jesson laughed in a shrill cackle and cried: 4 “So Virginia City, after bragging and boasting about wiping Bannack City off ag the map, has to come to Bannack when it _ wants things! Young man, Virginia is too e x highcockalorium to suit me. She’s stolen most of our citizens and captured most of the freight trains. “My diggings paid high till Fairweather struck it rich in Alder Gulch. Then my © claim petered out. When Fairweather — found color up there and sent a feller down — whisper the news to some of the best — citizens. Two hundred was favored, but —