Adventure Magazine Cover, December 10, 1922 — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

Tameless Days forward to bluff me? And now this— killing old Baldy, and then telling me he had been robbed! He played it mighty well. That’s very bad! “Baldy shot first. I'd give fifty ounces to know how much time passed between the two shots. Or did Baldy do any talking before shooting? He may have told things about me and the others in his boast- ing way. It would be like him when he believed he had his man cold. “That must have been how it happened. Baldy had him covered, helpless. Then the fool began to blab and brag; then Content caught him off his guard. Taken by sus- prize, Baldy got in one shot. Zing! Mr. Baldy’s head is spoiled beyond all repair! I must find one of the boys and get word to Virginia City.”’ He dragged some brush and heaped it over the body; and he was not fond of labor. Abandoning his plan of riding to Bannack City, he caught Baldy’s horse and started back toward the Rattlesnake. a4 at midday Beach found the street congested, with several men indulg- ing in impromptu oratory at different points. Riding slowly toward Beidler’s cabin, he caught enough from the various harangues to learn that the people were fearing an Indian attack. A man in front of Kessler’s was shouting for his audience to remember the men killed on the Salmon River the year before, to remember those killed during the preserft season on the Yellowstone and other trib- utaries of the Missouri. He was asking for volunteers to take arms and go out and slaughter the red men. He was listened to in silence, and when he paused to renew his breath his listeners deserted him to crowd around another speaker. ‘“‘What’s the trouble?” asked Beach of the winded orator. Thankful for even one pair of ears, the man explained: “T’ve been trying to get some enthusiasm into thesemen. The Crows have appeared in the Gallatin Valley, and small bands have crossed the Madison to the Jefferson. They’ ll cut off any small parties going out of town. They’ve made peace with the Black- feet, and they’re planning to kill all the whites east of the Rockies. The Sioux tribes to the east will join them. I tell you, ON ARRIVING in Virginia City 125 young man, that the Indians are about to wage a war of extermination!’ Beach rode on, not profoundly disturbed. He could not picture Virginia City being attacked. The Blackfeet were much to be feared; but the Crows, although great thieves, were not so quick to kill white men. If they came upon a miner or two in some isolated gulch they would make short work of him, but they lacked the malignant audac- ity of their ancient enemies, the Blackfeet. However, as he passed other groups and heard the same warning repeated he began to fear that there was truth behind it, and that the Indians at last were ceasing their intertribal wars and were uniting to resent the presence of the gold-hunters. Reaching the cabin, he found Beidler cooking beans and bacon. Beidler was glad to see him, grinned extensively and made much ado in finding another plate. After Beach had tethered his horse back of the cabin and had washed up for dinner Beidler’s genial visage grew sober. “So you didn’t get it,” he said. “Get it? Oh, the belting? No. Jesson wouldn’t sell at any price.” His abstraction told Beidler there was something the matter besides the failure of Holter’s errand; and the little man prompted: : “Then what is it? look and act queer.” “T feel queer,’’ mumbled Beach. He stepped to the.open door and glanced up and down the street, then took a seat at the table and whispered— ““Tave killed a man!” Beidler’s fork paused in its journey and returned to the plate. “Uh-huh? Then I’d copper it that he needed killing mighty bad, pardner. Any time you feel like telling me about.it Vl listen. Reckon we’d better eat before we have any talk,.though.”’ Out with it. You Beach’s appetite was small, and soon he — pushed back from the table and gloomily waited for his friend to finish. At last Beidler said: “All right. Go ahead if you want to.” Beach sketched his adventures at Rattle- snake Ranch and in Bannack. When he came to the homicide he winced and apolo- getically said— “Tt seems so awful.” When he was through Beidler heartily declared: comicbooks Ba. (E(0)