Adventure Magazine Cover — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

32 “What’s the trouble, Bunty?” asked Mohr. King Cleeve, attracted by the crowd out- side, had left his game and come out. Bunty saw Cleeve and turned to him. “T’ve' found the road-agents, ” stated Bunty. “Discovered ’em with the masks in their possession.” “Discovered is right,” grinned Three Star. “Bunty talked SO ach that they had to muzzle him.” Three Star laughed and looked at Zell’ Mohr. “Friends of yours, Mohr. spoke about you.” “Who yuh talkin’ about?” growled’ Mohr. "Brick Davidson and that Martin per- son,” replied Bunty. ‘Them two and the woman are the ones what robbed the stage.” Silent elbowed his way to Bunty’s side. “Don't let your cinch slip too much, Bunty.” Bunty looked around at the circle of faces, but there was only curiosity. “T’ve got a dead immortal cinch on them,” stated Bunty. “They got the drop on me and Three Star, but we got away. Now I want help to go and get ’em.” “Me and Harp will help yuh,” said Silent. Topaz Tyler added his gaudy presence to the assemblage, stepping easily that he might not soil his polished boots. “Take Topaz,” grinned Silent. ‘“He’ll dazzle ’em and then yuh can hit ’em from behind.” Bunty glared at Silent. ¢ “Kinda lookin’ for trouble, ain’t yuh, Slade?” “Well,” grinned Silent, ‘I ain’t packin’ no extra spokes for fear I might get a wheel smashed.” Bunty whirled as the crowd laughed, and went ‘straight for his office. The sheriff of Sun-Dog was disgusted and tired. Three Star started to follow him, but stopped. “Forgot I resigned.” Three Star removed the badge of office from the lapel of his vest and sent it spin- ning across the street. King Cleve watched Three Star shed his authority, and as the crowd drifted back into the saloon he stepped in close to Three Star and said— “What happened out there?” “Just what I expected,” said Three Star. “Brick Davidson made a pair of monkeys out of me and Bunty. They tied us up, but At least, they Adventure Bunty got his knife and cut us loose.” “What did they talk about?” “YT dunno—much.”’ Three Star shook his head seriously. “T didn’t sabe much they said, but I’m bettin’ that between them two—Brick and Martin—there’s goin’ to be —— turned loose in somebody’s wickiup.”’ “Threats?” “Nawsir. I heard yours and Mohr’s name mentioned.”’ Three Star started to go inside, but Cleeve took hold of his sleeve. “T’ll make it worth your while to remem- ber what they said.” Three Star scratched his chin and then shook his head. =, “Nope. I’m all through buttin’ into Brick Davidson’s business; and besides I’m gettin’ so I like the fool.” Mohr was standing beside the door, and he gave Three Star a searching glance as he passed. Cleeve went slowly in behind Three Star, and he and Mohr exchanged glances, but neither of them spoke. Mohr started as if to go to the hitch-rack, but changed his mind and went inside the saloon. Bunty Blair was mad at the world in gen- eral and Brick Davidson and Scott Martin in particular. Here was a chance for him — to land two men, whom he believed guilty of robbery, and to satisfy his revengeful nature at the same time. Bunty was merely incapable as a peace officer. Bunty knew this—knew it too well for his own conscience. He knew that Brick Davidson thought him a joke, and it cut deep into Bunty’s tender feelings. Per- haps other men thought the same as Brick, but they concealed their feelings. Bunty slapped his hat on the table. He lifted it up and slapped it down again. At least neither the table nor the hat would fight back, and Bunty needed a safety- valve. He glowered down at the hat as if it were no inanimate mass of battered felt, and then walked over to the door. To go after Brick and Martin single-handed was sui- cide; to ignore their actions meant ridicule from. the whole county. Bunty glanced up the street, and his body stiffened. Coming into the upper end of town was Brick Davidson on his hammer- headed gray, and beside him was Scott Martin, on a tall bay. Cconmmiclooo <Sis (E@)