Adventure Magazine Cover — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

sun-Dog Trails “Met him and Three Star Hennessey about half-way between here and town. Walkin’. Fact. I stops and says— “‘ “Tf you’re just exercisin’ I'll give yuh a lift up the road a piece and let yuh get a fresh start.’ “Know what Bunty said? He told me to go somewhere. I told him that the chairs was all reserved for sheriffs, and I’ll be danged if ?d standup. Ha,ha,ha! Three Star ain’t so bad, but he’s in bad company. Talkin’ about standin’ up reminds me of— Honey, let’s go in out of the sun.” * Jean led Mrs. Wesson inside, where she immediately began another discourse, break- ing off to eulogize Jean’s taste in room decoration. “Get your bronc,” said Brick. entertain Jean. I think that me and you have got a job ahead of us.” Martin nodded and listened to Mrs. Wesson talking. _ “She’s the goods, Davidson. Rough as a file, but I’ll bet she’s got a solid-gold heart. Put overalls and boots on her and she’d look just like a man.” Brick looked at Martin and then stared at his horse. He visualized Mrs. Wesson in male garb, and a smile crossed his face. He started to put’ his foot in the stirrup, but stopped. Then he turned to Martin, who was putting a saddle on a tall star-faced bay. | Say, pardner, that woman didn’t neither fly nor evaporate.” Martin turned. “Where did she go, Davidson?” - “Walked awav with the men.” “T thought yuh said she never left the rock.” “T was locc.” “How did she leave?”’ Brick swung into his saddle and adjusted himself before replying— ‘Walked away on her two feet.” Martin tied off his cinch and swung into his saddle. “Reckon we ought to take the sheriff’s rig back to town with us?” Brick shook his head, and they circled the ranch-house, headed for Marlin City. (ie Bunty and Three Star. Bunty had managed to work one hand Joose and secure his knife, and the rest had been easy. IT WAS a long, hot walk for “Tet her 3I They would have had to pass the open door of the living-room to reach their rig, and if they circled the house to reach the other side they might be seen or heard. Three Star advised.extreme caution, and Bunty was willing to accept the advice. Bunty was sore, but Three Star was indif- ferent. Bunty swore he was going to get a posse and go right back. Three Star wished him the best of luck, and his well wishes nettled Bunty. “Quittin’, are yuh?” snarled Bunty. “Not quittin’—quit,’’ corrected Three Star. . “You ain’t got no guts,” declared Bunty. “Let ’em treat yuh thataway and then quit.” “T didn’t ‘let’ ’em,” said Three Star, “‘and yuh can take it from me, they ain’t going to get another chance. Next time they’ll likely take your little knife and make yuh swaller it. As far as Brick Davidson is con- cerned—lI pass. The spectacle of the sheriff and deputy walking into town excited amusement and interest. Several cowboys were in front of the Dollar Down, and they lost no time in making an audible demonstration. Sitting in front of Wesson’s store were Silent and Harp, the latter dealing out mournful music, while Silent sang softly and very much off the key. “Looky!” grunted Harp, pointing up the— street. ‘“‘Bunty and Three Star hammerin’ their own hocks.”’ ‘Whatcha know?” wondered Silent. “‘Mebbe they know where Brick is—the. danged red-headed son of a gun.” Bunty and Three Star went straight for the saloon. Silent and Harp went across the street, arriving there just in time to hear Bunty say— ‘How many of you fellers want to get in on a reward?” Cowboys as a rule are skeptical of such an invitation. Zell Mohr came out of .the saloon and walked up to the crowd. Bunty glanced around expectantly, but none of the cow- boys seemed to consider his invitation. “T reckon I’ve got to deputize some of yuh,” stated Bunty. “Did yuh lose your horse and buggy?” asked Silent. “How much reward for gettin’ it back?” asked Bill See, a Triangle Dot puncher. Bunty glared at Silent, but did not speak. CoORnmiclooo “Si (S@)