Adventure Magazine Cover — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

20 “What in -is that?” Silent’s eyes were full of tears and his nose twitched violently. “Oil of mustard,” grinned Brick. she a humdinger? “Ain’t Doc Lindsay gave it to me >»? “What’s it for?” asked Harp. “Soberin’ up. Kicks the booze out of your head, muy pronto.” “Spend your good money for liquor and then blow your head off to get rid of it!” Silent wiped the tears off his cheeks and glared down at Brick. “Vou’re a disgrace to Sun-Dog County, Brick Davidson.” Brick got up and yawned. His legs wob- bled a little as he walked around the rear of the saloon and over to the hitch-rack, where he stopped and apologized to Silent and Harp for acting so disgracefully. Silent and Harp looked with distrust upon this apology. Brick was very meek. “Yessir,” nodded Silent as if to an in- visible person. “Yessir, when I come to think about it, I do. “Crazy, yuh say? Well, yuh know how it is—a feller kinda hates to say, but now that yuh mentioned it—yeah, I reckon you're right. No, I won’t mention any certain thing, y’under- stand, but jist take mostly anythin’ he’s ever done—you’re welcome, I’m sure.” Silent nodded and turned back to Brick and Harp. Brick laughed, but it was not a drunken laugh. Heroic measures had driven the alcohol from his head, leaving him ¢ trifle unsteady on his feet, but other- wise cold sober. Brick’s laugh nettled Silent. “You hoodled us away so yuh could come to town alone and git drunk, didn’t yuh? Yes, yuh did, Brick. Ain’tcha got no feelin’s?” Brick was busy searching his pockets and ignored Silent’s question. Brick swore softly. “Gone,” he muttered. “What—your feelin’s?” grunted Silent. “Thad anote in my pocket—’” began Brick. “Aw-w-w-w, gosh!” groaned Silent. ‘You went and lost that note? Yuh didn’t, did yuh, Brick?” Brick nodded and searched his pockets again. “Where did yuh lose it?” inquired Harp. “Where did he?”’ Silent glared at Harp, and then ham- mered on the hitch-rack. Adventure ‘“‘Where did he lose it? Harp, some day you’re goin’ to ask a question and I’m goin’ to kill yuh dead—right when yuh finish askin’. If he knowed where he lost it he’d know where he was when he lost it, wouldn’t he?” Silent snorted his disgust. “He’d know,” nodded Harp. ‘“He’d know where he was when he lost it if he was sober enough to know where he was when he lost it; but if he——” Silent clenched his hands and rubbed his shoulder into Harp’s chest, shoving him slowly backward. ‘Please don’t speak, Harp,” “Don’t speak.” “Don’t speak to hima, Harp,” grinned Brick. “T won’t,” promised Harp. “I ain’t got nothin’ to say to the fool. Where do yuh think yuh lost it, Brick?” i “Think!” Silent snorted. “‘What would he think with?” Harp looked mildly at the exasperated Silent and then turned his back. Silent snorted again and went across toward the store, walking stiff-legged like an angry bear. “He’s angry with me and you,” grinned Brick. ‘‘Mebbe he’ll be mad quite a while.” “Let’s me and you go into the saloon,” suggested Harp. “Betcha forty dollars he brings a peace-pipe, ‘cause he’s thirsty.” The bartender was idly wiping a glass as they came in, and the glass fell from his fingers, making a dull plop! in the rinsing- tub under the bar. He stared at Brick, who walked up to the bar, talking to Harp. There was nothing about Brick’s actions that would indicate he had ever hada drink. “Hooch,” said Harp. “The best yuh got,” added Brick. “I’m dry.” The bartender’s hand shook as he placed the required articles before them. He won- dered if Brick was one of twins, er if any man could handle that much— Well, if he wasn’t one of twins, it was a sinful waste of liquor. = Bunty Blair came in and sat down at an unused card-table before he saw that Brick was still there. Bunty had expected that Brick had been laid away long before: this; and Bunty watched, fascinated, as Brick rolled a cigaret with one hand and never spilled the tobacco. Then Bunty stared at the table-top. It was beyond him. COPMiclooolKSsee he begged.