Adventure Magazine, Mid-September 1917 — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

Longhorns whom five hundred dollars apiece were offered! This man who had just saved Chuck’s life! It did not seem possible that he could be what he was. “Climb up behind me, an’ [’ll take yuh part way to Farewell,” offered Henderson. “Say,” said Chuck, crossing one knee over the other, “don’t yuh know no better’n go near Farewell?” “Why not? What’sa matter with Fare- well?” “‘Nothin’s the matter with Farewell that I know of. It’s you, stranger.” “Down at Seymour they’ve offered five hundred apiece for you an’ yore side- kicker.” “That’s good,”? Henderson said with a peculiar smile. “But it don’t hardly seem like enough, does it?” “Tt’s enough for most any o’ them tarra- pins in Farewell to have a stab at earnin’ it,’ Chuck averred, blissfully forgetful of the fact that he had himself been of a mind to earn that five hundred. “I dunno if they’s any notices posted in Farewell, but I wouldn’t take chances if I was you. I’d drag it prompt and soon, that’s what I’d do.” “Oh, yuh would, huh?” “Shore would.” “‘S’pose now I don’t feel like draggin’ it. S’pose I ain’t got no quar’! with this coun- try an’ I aim to stay awhile?” ‘Well, s’posin’ all that, yuh can gamble yuh’ll find the answer, stranger. I tell yuh they’re after yuh—cavalry from Fort Sey- mour. ‘They arrested me an’ the Kid’s Twin—he’s one o’ our boys—an’ drug us off to the fort ’cause we looked a mite like you an’ yore friend. It’s a good thing for you yuh got rid o’ yore angora chaps an’ that black an’ gold hatband an’ pearl- handled gun. Whatcha laughin’ at, huh?”’ “Me? Oh, nothin’, nothin’ a-tall.” “Yuh seem to think it’s almighty funny, but if yuh let that shavetail an’ his swaddies get a sight o’ yuh, yuh won’t think so. Now lookit here, yuh shore saved my life just now, an’ anythin’ I got is yores. If yuh need a stake, yuh can have it, y’betcha.”’ ‘““That’s shore friendly of yuh,’ declared Henderson, ‘“‘but I’m plenty strong on coin myself. So them long knives roped on to. yuh, huh? Might ’a’ knowed they’d make a mistake if they was any chance o’ makin 4 49 one. They ain’t good for nothin’ ’cept fight Injuns.” ““Y’ain’t leavin’ us, then?” queried Chuck sharply. “Not yet,” Henderson shook his leah head. ‘All right. Now mind yuh, J ain’t sayin’ a word about who yore friends may be, but I’m tellin’ yuh this: Keep away from the CY.” “Anythin’ else?” smile. “Nothin’ that yuh’d listen to.” ‘All right. You’ve spoke yore 1i’l piece. Yuh needn’t worry about me visitin’ the C-Y. Here’s what I’m askin’ of you: Don’t say nothin’ about today—about seein’ me, I mean. I got reasons for not wantin’ folks to know where I am.” “Nary a word,” agreed Chuck. here comes somebody now.” He had that moment glimpsed a dust- cloud far away on the back trail, The washed-out gray eyes, following his glance, became keen on the instant. “Then I’ll be weavin’ along back to my li’l old knoll. Il stay there till I see whether the gent who’s makin’ aJl that trail is a friend o’ yores or not. Them bush- whackers might take it into their heads to come back. So long. I guess you an’ I won’t ride Farewell way after all.” “T guess maybe we won't,” said Chuck dryly. The cause of the dust-cloud proved to be Tom Dowling of the 88. He rode up agog with excitement at sight of the dead mules and other signs of battle. ‘‘Who done it?” he demanded. ‘“Injuns? Road-agents?”’ “¥ dunno,” replied Chuck. ‘They didn’t tell me.” “‘That was shore careless of ’em,”’ grinned Dowling. ‘Want a ride to town, or was Again that peculiar “But yuh figgerin’ on hoofin’ it?” CHAPTER XIV A WISE WOMAN Crs and Dowling, riding double, did not reach Farewell till the late afternoon. Chuck went at once to Bill Lainey’s hotel where he blandished Mrs. Lainey into feeding him in advance of the regular supper-hour and arranged with the fat and lethargic Bill to provide a wagon and team in the morning. COmicloo C©