Adventure Magazine Cover — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

sun-Dog Trails | | 5 Limpy rubbed his hands on his hips and squinted at Brick. ‘I ain’t in the habit of asking passengers for their names. She didn’t do no talkin’, and she wore a veil. “Reckon them there robbers kidnaped her?” This from Silent. “Kidnaped, grunted Limpy. “She wasn’t no kid. We'll have to take this here box as : “Yuh needn’t worry about the box,” said a voice behind them; and they turned to look into the muzzle of a rifle, backed up by a masked man. >? pee THE mask was of black material Yee with two eye-holes, and it covered him from the crown of-his hat to below his shoulders. The three instinctively put up their hands, and just then the bushes parted and out stepped another masked man and a masked woman. The woman’s dress was badly torn, and there was a smear of blood across her wrist. In her right hand she car- ried a heavy pistol, while the man carried a rifle. At a nod from the first man the wo- man took the rifle and leveled it at the group, while one of the men appropriated the pistols from Brick, Silent and Limpy. Then the two men picked up the iron box and carried it down the hill out of sight, while the woman still covered the three men. She made no motion to follow her companions. Brick shifted his weight to his right leg and grinned at her. “Vuh don’t need to point that at me, sis- ter. It wasn’t my little iron box.” “Nor mine,” added Limpy. ‘Under the circumstances, I don’t even know what box yuh refers to.” But the woman refused to speak. “Never knowed it could be possible,” drawled Silent. “It ain’t noways reason- able to suppose that a woman can keep from talkin’ thataway. No offense, ma’am; but are yuh married?” The woman seemed to be laughing under her mask, but did not reply. _ “Cause,” Silent pointed out, “’cause if yuh ain’t— No, I want to see your face before I goes further in these here ne-go-ti-a- tions. Your disposition suits me to a gnat’s eyelash, but I’m kinda finicky about faces.” From down in the timber came a shrill whistle, and the woman turned and started away, turning her back on the three men. She disappeared into the brush, “Well,” said Brick, “you fellers might as well take your hands down.” Silent grinned and lowered his hands. Limpy rubbed his hands together and mas- ticated viciously, staring at the others. Silent started for the spot where the woman had entered the brush, but a bullet flupped past his head and thudded into the body of the coach. From down in the ravine came the whang of a rifle. “No.” Silent shook his head. reckon I won’t try to make a mash on her . while she’s got a chapey-rone like that.” “Held up by a woman,” chuckled Brick. “Sufferin’ sunfish! Next thing yuh know they’ll be drivin’ stages and a ‘Go ahead and laugh!” rasped Limpy. “Your hands went as high as mine did.” “Higher,” admitted Brick. “I’m taller than you, Limpy. Let’s each take a horse and go to Marlin City. Mebbe the sheriff would like to hear about it.” ‘“Whatsa use?” argued Silent. ‘‘ ‘Bunty’ Blair’d never catch any road-agents.” ‘“He’s a elegant sheriff,” nodded Limpy. “Swell-elegant.”’ “Vou helped elect him,” accused Silent. “YT didn’t!” snapped Limpy. ‘I voted for Bricks. Brick stopped half-way up the sloping side of the grade and laughed. “Tf yuh did, Limpy, there was crooked work at the polls. I only got seven votes. Silent, ‘Baldy’ McPherson, Sam Clayton, Bill See, Lafe Freeman, ‘Happy’ Sinclair and me. Them six was campaignin’ for me, and I know I voted for myself.” Limpy masticated violently., The evi-. dence seemed against him. “TY kinda thought yuh had a good chance, Brick,” he stated, ignoring Brick’s implica- tion. “Happy told me that yuh had three hundred votes pledged.” “T did. Election showed me one thing, Limpy.” “What?” “That there’s three hundred Sun-Dog County.” Limpy scratched his nose reflectively and nodded. “More’n that, Brick—seven more; only you wasn’t in no position to discover the other seven.” Brick laughed. Brick was always ready to laugh, even if the joke was on him, and liars in EOMIGbioo CSI: “No, I (S©)