Adventure Magazine Cover, December 10, 1922 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

- news. 130 I’d be easier in my mind if some one else stood in my shoes.” “You won’t be hung. Before Plummer can get into action we'll have you safe and snug ull the people can understand the game.” “Maybe, but he’s mighty quick on the draw,”’ faltered Beach. “Henry is quick,” admitted Beidler, rising and stepping behind the door. ‘But honestly is he any quicker than this?” His right hand flashed out a gun and re- stored it, and a gun appeared in his left hand, only to disappear; then the two guns appeared simultaneously, vanished and came again. Beach, goggle-eyed, shook his _ head. ““T don’t believe any man on earth is as fast as that,’’ he muttered. Beidler laughed gleefully. “Oh, there are men very likely who can pull and shoot before I can get started— but I haven’t met them. I know Henry can’t, nor Ives, nor Parish. As for Haze Lyon and that cannibal, Boone Helm, they’re ox-wagons beside me.” “T won’t try to learn the trick. It’s hopeless. Either a man can do it or he can’t,” said Beach. “You'll begin today, doing it over and over. When you get so your average is good with the right hand you'll start with your left. Now take this empty gun so there won’t be any accidents, step back here and begin!” Beach shifted guns and tried it. corrected him. “You mustn’t glance down to your hol- ster. You know it’s there. Your hand must find it the first move while you keep your eyes on my eyes. Go ahead.” Time after time Beach tried it, and at last insisted: “It’s no use. Beidler I can’t ever get the hang of it.” “Enough for this time. You’re doing fine. Got so you can find the handle with- out glancing down at it. You’ve put eyes in your hand. That’s the first step.” Ke BY THE time night had darkened wd the gulch, the town’s mercurial in- terest had reverted again to war Additional newspapers convinced even those from the left wing of Price’s army that Lee had received a set-back at Gettysburg and that there was no imme- Adventure diate danger of an invasion of the North. Union men were boisterously celebrating. Southern men were stubbornly denying the press reports. Blows were struck and pistols were used. Those men who were elected to read aloud from the newspapers were careful to preface their reading by stating an entire lack of bias and disclaim- ing any responsibility for what the papers had to say. And the moment the reading was finished the herald jumped down from box, table or barrel to escape any missile. Thus at the feet of the Rockies did men argue and fight over issues which had been decided a month or two months back. But whether the absorbing topic was war news, Indians or the latest gold discovery, there was always an undercurrent of grum- bling and cursing over the latest crime of the road-agent band. Lee might capture Pennsylvania or lose Virginia, and the im- mediate consequence was of less importance to some who failed to receive letters from home, or who learned their shipments of dust had been stolen. But while men were courageous enough publicly to proclaim the news from the front, ride forth to fight the Indians or risk life in reaching new diggings, there were very few who would turn street orators and dare to harangue against the organized lawbreakers. The reason for this was as simple as it was old; none cared to dare a danger which could not be perceived’ and which in the shape of bullet and knife might strike from behind. It was the fear of the unknown that made men mumble under their breath and look the thoughts they dared not express in words. It was commonly believed that the road- agents were many and their nefarious work well planned; but just who was on the roster was the query every honest man put to himself when tempted to talk in public. The number of deaths attributed to the band was not exaggerated much, if any; for it was possible to check off more than a hundred between Alder Gulch and Salt Lake City. How many were done to death with only their assassins knowing their fate could never be known. Men departed on pros- pecting trips and never returned. Many newcomers to the diggings dropped from sight before they had had a chance even to establish their identity. Bones of white men were found in lonely gulches, and the Gomichboo “S) (E@)