Adventure Magazine Cover, April 1916 — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

126 urged Loudon to go in and see Dorothy. The presence of O’Leary did not forecast an enjoyable meal. “I just come in for a drink, Mis’ Burr,” said Loudon. ‘‘I wish I could stay for sup- per. Thank ye kindly, all the same, but I got to see a man down street.”’ “Huh,” grunted Mrs. Burr skeptically. “Ye don’t like O’Leary neither, do ye?”’ “T didn’t say nothin’ about that, ma’am.” “No, o’ course not. Ye can’t fool me, Tom Loudon. There’s cool water in that covered pail. Say, it’s too bad about that hoss o’ yores. Scotty told me ye didn’t have no luck in Rocket. It sure is too bad. He was a right good hoss.”’ “He is a good hoss, ma’am. He ain’t a goner yet, by a jugful. I’ll get him back.” “T hope so, an’ I hope ye lynch the thief, or shoot him anyway. He hadn’t ought to live a minute. The Flyin’ M cook too. Ye can’t hardly believe it.” Loudon got his drink and departed. As he rode past the house he saw Dorothy and O’Leary sitting on the doorstep. Dorothy waved her hand and smiled. O’Leary posi- tively beamed. Had Loudon been his old- est friend O’Leary’s greeting could not have been more cordial. ‘‘Now I’d like to know,” thought Lou- don, as he rode down the street, “‘what li- cense he’s got to be so cheerful. Is it ’cause I ain’t stayin’ to supper, or is it ’cause he’s got some other card up his sleeve?” “Why didn’t you stay to supper?” chuck- led Scotty, when Loudon dropped into the chair next him at the hotel dining-table. “T couldn’t stand it to be away from you so long,” retorted Loudon, and helped him- self generously to the butter. “T kind o’ thought it might be that way. Try them pickles. They taste like they’d been used for tannin’ saddles.”’ Night had not yet fallen when Loudon and Scotty started for the Flying M. As they passed the house of Big Jim Mace, Scotty groaned. ‘“fYere comes that female girl o’ Old Salt’s,’’ he whispered perturbedly. ‘‘She’s headin’ our way. She’s a-callin’ to ye, Tom! She’s a-callin’ to ye! I’m goin’ on. I’ll wait for ye on the trail.”’ There was no disregarding Kate Saltoun. She had even stepped out into the street in her efforts to attract Loudon’s attention. Scotty loped onward, and Loudon twisted his horse toward the sidewalk. Adventure “Well,” said Kate, smiling up at him, ‘“‘you are a nice one! I believe you’d have passed right by without speaking if I hadn’t called to you. Come on in and see Mrs. Mace and me. Jim’s down street, and we want some one to talk to.” ‘‘Just some one?” Loudon could have bitten his tongue off for uttering this flirty remark. But for the life of him he could not help saying it. Kate smiled. “Some one would probably do for Lil,” she said, “but I want you. I’ve an awful lot to tell you, Tom.” “T can’t, Kate. Honest, I’d like to come in an’ see yea lot. [sure would. ButI got to ride out to the ranch with Scotty Mac- kenzie.”’ “Ts that funny old person with the parti- colored sleeve Scotty Mackenzie? I’ve heard dad speak of him. They never liked each other, I believe. Bring him over, I’d like to meet him. Then he can talk to Lil.” ‘“‘That’d be fine, but ye see Scotty’s in a hurry to get back to the ranch. I’m afraid we couldn’t manage it nohow.” Kate’s face fell. Loudon glanced up and saw Dorothy Burr and Pete O’Leary ap- proaching. Interest, polite in Dorothy’s case, speculative in O’Leary’s, was manifest in their expressions. Kate moved closer to Loudon and laid a hand on the neck of his horse. ‘“‘Tom,” she whispered, “I just heard what Block tried todo. Liltoldme. You don’t believe I had anything to do with it, do your” “Why, no, o’ course I don’t.” ‘“‘Are you sure?”’ ‘“‘Why, Kate, I know you couldn’t do a thing like that. Don’t ye think any more about it.” “T believe you do, just the same. Tom, no matter how much I disliked a person I wouldn’t betray him.” “I believe ye. Honest, I do.” Dorothy and O’Leary passing at this juncture, Loudon lifted his hat. Kate turned and looked after the pair. When her eyes once more met Loudon’s there was a faint trouble in their black depths. ‘“‘Who are they?” she queried. “Cap’n Burr’s daughter O’Leary.”’ ce There was deep meaning in that 669 oF an’ Pete COMmichoooks (©