Adventure Magazine Cover — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

sun-Dog Trails \ 15 Limpy,” stated Bunty slowly. “I’d kinda like to know where you left him.” “At the forks,” replied Harp. . Bunty’s grin was crooked and his voice was mildly sarcastic. “Looks kinda queer.” “Wait a minute,” snapped Brick. “You insinuating that we had anything to do with shootin’ Limpy Squires?” “No, I ain’t, Davidson; but there’s a few things that “ . “Why should we harm Limpy?” de- manded Silent. -“There’s a lot of things that need ex- plaining. That hold-up, for instance. You two and Limpy come here with a cock-and- bull story about female road-agents, and then you admit you're lyin’ about the woman. You laugh like it was a good joke. “Davidson, you and Slade stay out at the ranch and send Harp in to town to see what he can find out. Looks kinda queer to me, if anybody asks yuh.” “Yeah?” drawled Brick innocently. “Tt does,” stated Bunty, who seemed to grow bolder when he found that the fiery Brick remained indifferent to the half- accusation. “Y’m waiting for you to talk.” “Oh!” grunted Brick, recovering from his abstraction. . “Whatcha say, Bunty?” “T said I was waiting for an explanation.” “Well; now that’s sure thoughtful of yuh,” nodded Brick. “If yuh only wait long enough, Sun-Dog County will grow to be a State and you might be elected gov- ernor. Ever’thin’ comes to them who waits, Bunty.”’ “T want that explanation right now! Sabe?” “Who’s Topaz Tyler?” asked Brick suddenly. ‘‘He’s a new one on me.” “T know’m,” grunted Harp. “He punched cows for the Diamond H outfit in Idaho till they caught him cheatin’ in a poker game. Tall, skinny tin-horn with edu- cated fingers. Wears a six and _ three- quarter hat and a number five boot.” “Vou used to be in Idaho too, didn’t yuh, Bunty?” asked Brick. “That ain’t answering my questions!” snapped the sheriff. “T want you to explain about that hold- up—the truth of it; sabe?” “VYo’re takin’ a lot upon yourself,” smiled Brick. ‘‘When in did you get the right to ask questions, Bunty? ’Pears to me like you’re gettin’ personal.” “I’m the sheriff, ain’t I?” 7 “Well,” drawled Brick, “you keep right on bein’ the sheriff and nobody’s goin’ to molest yuh, Bunty. Speakin’ of Idaho, ‘pears like that State’s well represented around here. Bunty comes from there, and Silent used to live in that country, and now comes ‘Topaz Tyler. Mebbe we can have a reunion.” “Feller- what bought the Weepin’ Tree outfit is from Idaho,” volunteered Harp. “‘Leastwise I seen a box out there with his name on it and it also had the words ‘Cottonwood, Ida.’ I-d-a means Idaho, don’t it?” “And,” added Silent, “if I ain’t so danged badly mistaken King Cleeve’s from Idaho. — not lately, yuh understand, ote” Silent broke off and stared at the opposite wall. Then his face broke into a smile of won- derment. “What’s a joke?” asked Brick, grinning an accompaniment. “‘Nothin’, Brick; I was just thinkin’.” ‘“What’s all this about?’’ demanded the sheriff testily. ‘I asks for an explanation and I gets a lot of fool talk. I want that explanation—now!”’ ‘“‘And if we refuse to talk—what then?” asked Brick. “Well, ll have to present such facts as I have to the county attorney.” Brick grinned at Bunty and shook his head. “You ain’t got no facts, Bunty, but do the best with what yuh have. A top-buggy ain’t nothin’ to hunt outlaws in, and if the county attorney ain’t got no more sense than you have, the two of yuh ought to be able to hang some half-witted sheepherder for killin’ Limpy. Do yuh want to arrest any of us?” “‘No—not now—not yet.” “Stutterin’ loosens your teeth,” stated Brick. ‘Come on.” The three of them filed out, leaving Bunty Blair glaring down at the top of his desk, his nerve almost gone. He reflected that it was a good thing that Brick David- son had taken it as a joke. Bunty had been forced, against his will, to demand an explanation from the three cowboys. They had refused. ComcooolkSse@