Adventure Magazine Cover, December 10, 1922 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

Tameless Days verdict, “Killed by some one unknown,” was pronounced before many a nameless grave. Theréfore the wise man, let him be ever so stout of heart, walked warily in the shadowed land, suspicious of the men he drank with or met on the trail, and waited for a time when he could know what he was fighting. © hat many were convinced of Plum- mer’s complicity helped the cause of justice but little. Who, and how many, were be- hind Plummer? Ives had a bad name, as had Whisky Bill, Long John, Texas Bob, old Hilderman, Bill Hunter, Alexander Carter, Boone Helm and Club-Foot George. But these were only a few men. Others, with much more power, might be behind the organization. Beach reacted over night and by morning was filled with a fine enthusiasm to stand his ground. Nor did he realize how much of this spirited self-dependence he had _ bor- rowed from his companion. Beidler was more quiet and given to cogitation. He allowed Beach to cook the breakfast while he stepped out on the street. When he returned he brought Holter with him. Beach knew the two had been talking about him when Holter said: “You can do me the most good out in Ramshorn Gulch, looking after the mill. Later on when I get to sawing a lot of stuff you can handle the lumber-yard I’m plan- ning to put in here.” Beach apprehended that he would find Ramshorn Gulch far more lonely than the vegetable farm, and his face fell. His duties would be those of a caretaker, as the mill must remain idle until Holter brought the new belt. Beidler read the disappoint- ment in his face and said: “Tt’s a good place to practise the draw and quick shooting. After you’ve had time to practise Ill ride over and see how quick you are.” “You can take a pan, pick and shovel along and kill some time prospecting,” added Holter. “I was so busy building the road over the divide between Ramshorn and Biven’s Gulch that I never could look for color. But there’s gold everywhere in this country.” “I’m going into exile, and you fellows are trying to make it soft for me,” said Beach. “Last night I thought it was just a question of my keeping my nerve and facing things.” 131 “That’s the of it, old man,” said Beidler. “The game takes a new slant. The Wild Cat is in town, and Kessler’s bartender tipped me off that the gang now plans to let the Wild Cat even things up instead of making it a public trial. The Wild Cat’s defense will be that you killed his friend in cold blood and that it became a feud fight between him and you. will allow Plummer to keep out of it and yet teach the citizens a lesson on the danger of harming any of the toughs. The Wild Cat let something drop to some of his cronies when half-drunk, and the barkeep overheard it.” “Then my exile means I must stay exiled until I can draw a gun faster than the Wild Cat can,’’ mused Beach. “About that. You can’t go out and shoot him down in his tracks. Not that Plummer would care much if you did. It would give him a chance to brand you as a killer.” “If you two say it’s for the best then T’ll go,” sighed Beach. ‘But life in a min- ing-camp isn’t anything like what I had expected it to be. I’m no more than here before I’m shooed out of town.” “Things have happened fast,” sympa- thized Beidler. “But let’s hope for better times. I can outfit you for prospecting, This and there’s plenty of powder and balls and ~ a good Henry rifle under one of the bunks in the mill-house, Holter says. So you can shoot and wash gold to your heart’s content and know you are earning your wages by guarding the property.”’ “And after I get the man started on sew- ing the belt I'll come out and you can help me make some repairs,” said Holter. “And we'll eat breakfast and start night away,’ appended Beidler. “Whew! That’s rushing me off in ‘ear- nest!” exclaimed Beach. “All right. You two are real friends and know best.” By the time they had finished their breakfast Holter was back with a horse to serve as pack-animal. Beidler added a pan, pick, and shovel to the supplies al- ready strapped on the horse and began donning his big coat. Putting on _ his huge white hat, he announced to Beach: “Nothing to do just now, and I'll ride a bit with you. It’s only eighteen miles out, you know,.and you'll have no trouble following the ox-road after I turn back.” “It'll be good to have your company,” Gomicbooks (elo)