Adventure Magazine, Mid-September 1917 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

44 for Willie’s Old Brother-in-Law was well thought of in the community. “No, he isn’t dead,’”? continued the Rainbow, replying to questions, “and the chances are he’ll recover. But he was shot from ambush, and I want to know where Lanpher was this morning.”’ “I was with the boys all mornin’,” Lanpher made haste to say, realizing the seriousness of the situation. “Ask any of "em. Ask the sheriff.” “That’s right, Rainbow,” corroborated the sheriff. ‘‘He’s been with me since nine o’clock this mornin’. He didn’t shoot yore uncle.” “It’s a healthy thing for him he had you to prove his word,’’ observed the Rainbow, malevolently eying the unfortunate Lan- pher. “TI wouldn’t believe him on oath.” She abruptly turned her back and returned to the door-sill. “Well, I guess everythin’s all right now,” announced the sheriff, with a sigh of relief. ‘“‘No harm done anywhere. I guess yore info’mant was mistaken, Lanpher.”’ “fT guess—maybe—he was,” Lanpher sneered churlishly. “‘Lanpher,” said Chuck, ‘‘yuh seem to have forgotten what I said about treatin’ the Dales white. I get kind o’ tired o’ bein’ good-natured after a while. Seems to me I’ve been pretty easy on yuh. Yessir, pretty nice an’ easy, an’ yuh don’t act like yuh appreciated it, not any. Yuh’d ought to try to, anyway, even if it hurts. Yuh can drag it now, if yuh like,” he added, apparently as an afterthought. ‘‘Thanks,” snarled Lanpher, “I’m shore obliged to yuh. Sheriff, I tell yuh flat if yuh’d been in town when I first got there an’ we could ’a’ started at once, instead 0’ me havin’ to wait an’ wait till yuh got in, we'd ’a’ found them 88 hosses in this corral.” “I don’t believe it,’ replied the sheriff, ‘‘an’ I tell you, Lanpher, the next time you pull me an’ my two boys out on a fool deal like this, yuh’ll know it, y’betcha.” “‘Here’s yore gun, Lanpher,”’ cried Chuck, tossing him the weapon. Lanpher holstered the weapon and turned to mount his horse. “TY didn’t tinload her,’? Chuck declared significantly. But Lanpher made no sign that he heard this rather open invitation to combat and rode off without a word. All of his men, save one, followed him. This one, Tom Adventure Dowling, had dismounted to tighten cinches. His sidling horse, urged to activity by a jabbing thumb, took him close to Chuck. “‘Cutnose Canter was at the ranch late las’ night,” said the 88 boy.out of the corner of his mouth, and without looking at Chuck. “Stand still, yuh cock-eyed accor- deen!’ he bawled to his horse. “D’juh think I want to trail yuh a mile ’fore I can get this hull tight.” CHAPTER XII LAGUERRE DISAGREES GUINOSE CANTER had visited the 88 ranch late the night before! This fact coupled with that of Lanpher’s arrival with the sheriff was fairly strcng circum- stantial evidence that Cutnese knew a great deal about the presenc of the 88 horses in the Dale corral, if inueed, he had not himself fathered the business. Had Lanpher actually allied himself with Cut- nose? It did not seem possible, for Lanpher had never been known to overstep the line of honesty. But a seeker after revenge will go to great lengths to attain his object. ‘“‘She’s shore one puzzle,” Chuck said aloud, looking after Tom Dowling. “What’s a puzzle?” queried Jane. “What little girls don’t know,” he grinned back. “Smack him,” advised the Rainbow judicially. “Aren’t men the freshest things?”’ “They are,’ agreed Jane. “Just for that, Mister Morgan, you may split me some kindling. There’s the ax, there’s the wood, and there you are. If you think of anything else you need, ask for it.” “T will,” said Chuck, picking up the ax. ‘ll ask yuh what for clo’es the jigger wore who sold you that hind-quarter o’ beef— No, I ain’t foolin’. I want to know. I gotta know.” Jane puckered her handsome brows and tucked up stray strands of copper-colored hair. ‘I. can’t seem to remember anything but a hat,”’ she said at last. “Of course he had on more than that,” she added hastily, with a very red face. ‘“‘Shore,”’ said Chuck, wondering what the Rainbow found to giggle at. ‘What for a hat was she?” “Gray, with a black and gold hatband.”’ CoOMmiclsoo CO