Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

The Best Bet the reserve and the smoke reports on the swamp. Bradley here knows the country like a book; he even lived a week once in Black Swamp on a bet; and when I showed him the reports and told him that I sus- pected that O’Toole had drifted down from the upper country he was familiar enough with the peculiar conditions here to put two and two together. “Now, chief, the point of the bet is that Bradley has discovered that the service is decadent—it’s composed of pretty poor sports. To demonstrate it he bet me that no matter how big a job a man did, the service was too small and narrow to appre- ciate it. The service didn’t stand behind its men on their merits—it was personal and mean. That’s the bet, chief, and Bradley brought in O’Toole by way of proof.” It was on the tip of the ranger’s tongue to call the district man a liar. That wasn’t the bet at all; Driscoll was playing some sort of game. Before Bradley could voice his protest, however, the chief rose to his feet and faced him. “Ranger, you’re a regular —— hooting, betting man, ain’t you!” Bradley was startled and mildly shocked. Never before had he known the chief to be profane or slangy. He stared curiously at the mild-eyed official, who went on: “That was a very neat little resignation you sent me, but before I accept it ’m 143 going to call your bluff about being a gam- bler. I’ve got an idea that you’re a tin- horn; and I want to lay a man-sized bet with you.” Bradley’s eyes blinked rapidly. After a moment he was able to say— “‘Name her, chief.” “T’ll bet you, ranger, that the man who crossed Black Swamp last night and brought in a prisoner the service has wanted for | months isn’t capable of taking hold and making a success of that down-river post I’m offering him.” For a moment Bradley was breathless. An instant later he was on the defensive, sensing the presence of a practical joke. Then he saw Driscoll, standing beyond, smiling at him. The district man evidently read the cause of his hesitation, for he nodded to him reassuringly. Bradley, moved by sudden impulse, swung from the saddle and stood facing his superior. : “Boss, I—I just naturally call that little bet, and if you don’t mind I’d like to raise you with another.” “Shoot,” demanded the studious official. Bradley grinned in appreciation. “Chief, Pll bet you my resignation against that down-river post that the man you just spoke about has laid his last bet. Are— are you game to call that one?” “Called!” said the chief like a proper good sport as he held out his hand. (E(0) Gomicbooks