Adventure Magazine Cover, April 3, 1918 — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

140 Laguerre, ‘“‘the less I like this wrastlin’ ’round with Skinny Devinney. Seems like she was kind o’ unnecessary an’ a heap likely to come high for Racey. I’ve heard Skinny was a hard customer.” “Le’s go see heem,”’ said Laguerre. But the ex-station-boss was not to be found in the Bend. Skinny Devinney had saddled a horse and pulled his freight. ‘“An’ I always thought Skinny was a fighter,”, their bartending informant re- marked with disgust. “After gettin’ his cork pulled thataway he can’t never show up in this town again, that’s a cinch. Shore, but throat’s a leetle raw this mornin’. T’ll take a cigar ’f yuh don’t mind.” “Help yoreself. We'll take about twenty- five apiece. I like a good smoke, I do, an’ I don’t guess we'll run up on any cigars like these in the Yellow Medicine country.” “Ridin’ there, huh?” ““Between the Medicine an’ Dry Creek. Seven an’ four-bits? Here y’are. Le’s wander, Telescope.”’ “Good morning, Mister Ramsay.” It was a gay and Sunday morning voice that spoke, and Johnny, in the act of mount- ing, slid his foot from the stirrup and turned, dragging off his hat. Mrs. Wallace smiled up into his face with eyes and mouth. “G’mornin’, ma’am,” said Johnny, and wished Telescope would go away. But the half-breed had no intention of doing any such thing. He sat quite still in the saddle, rolling a cigaret, and unobtru- sively observing the lady from under his hat brim. Johnny, greatly against his will, was forced to introduce him. “You haven’t forgotten about coming to see me?” she said to Johnny in a low tone. “Now, ma’am, how could I?” “Tonight?” The black eyes pleaded. I’m not working tonight. I take a vaca- tion now and then. This evening will be then. Docome. I'll be all alone.” “Yd shore like to. But I ain’t a-goin’ to be in town. I’m workin’ for Scotty now.” “Tt isn’t far from the ranch if—if you really want to come.” ‘The long curving lashes were lowered and she was poking with her parasol at a crack in the sidewalk. “Tt ain’t a case o’ want, ma’am,” pro- tested Johnny. “But by tonight [ll be in Rocket. Tomorrow me an’ my friend’ll be over east o’ the Yellow Medicine some- Adventure ? ers. We'll work back to the Flyin’-M by way of Dry Creek, the Seven-Lazy-Seven, an’ Cavalry Valley. Two weeks, ma’am, fore I’ll see the Bend again.” “Oh, I am sorry,” said she; “but you’ll come to see me when you return?” “Shore will.” Again the red lips parted in their fascinat- ing smile. She inclined head and shoulders in. a little bow that included Laguerre, swung her parasol and strolled away. “You know Mees Dor’ty Burr, huh?’ asked the half-breed, when they had passed from Main Street to the Farewell trail. ‘Shore, I know her. Why?” “She un Slay dey was ride by wile you : was talk wit’ degrande demoiselle.” “Veah.” Outwardly uninterested. “Yeah, she look at you leetle, den she was look at Slay, un laugh un talk fas’.” “Huh.” Still the outward lack of interest. “Eet ees hard for drive two pony.” “What’s drivin’ two cayuses gotta do with me, I’d like to know?” “T was jus’ say so.”’ Laguerre shrugged Gallic shoulders. “I have been de scout, I have leeve wit’ Enjun. I see w’at I see.” “Say, Telescope, whatcha talkin’ about?” “T was jus’ talk,” evaded Laguerre, drop- ping his off eyelid. ‘You deed not say you ~ was know dees Mees’ Wallace w’en I was talk about her de firs’ tam.” ‘Guess I must ’a’ forgot. Don’t make no difference, does it?” “She ees smart,” Laguerre sidestepped. ‘You have tell her w’ere we go.” “Shore I did. I had to. We may be trailed. If we say before we start where we're a-goin’ to, an’ then go there, they won’t be so suspicious. They’ll never think we’d say right out where we was lookin’ for evidence, would they now?” “T unnerstan’. You have walk een de watair by tellin’ de trut’. But deed I not say dat lady she ees smart? She weel t’ink dat ees jus’ w’at you would do, mabbeso.” “She ain’t as smart as that,’’ Johnny denied vigorously. “She ees sight smarter dan dat. I tell you dat lady ees hard for fool.” “Yo’re always lookin’ on the black side, y ol’ wet blanket.” ‘“‘Aw right, you weel see,” said Laguerre, nodding sagely. “Gimme de match.” TO BE CONTINUED COMmICMOoOokKS (C@