Adventure Magazine Cover — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

102 he might. Thus he covered himself, and all the spectators could swear that his insult to Mrs. Alvorn was accidental. Two packages fell from her hands as she sprang back, angrily, leaving him all clear. “T didn’t think you’d—here!”’ he said, in his sharp, shrill voice, throwing his head back so that the brim of his hat stood up, giving his eyes clear view, which he needed. He had given his open challenge at last. Bob Alvorn dropped back one step, to Sheriff Darnell’s side, and snatched the officer’s forty-five caliber, half-inch barreled revolver from its right hand holster. Then, after the manner of the Ozark Mountain Bald Knobbers, he sprang clear of the shade, across the side- walk into the dust of the street. He took long chances, making that honest jump. His leg was still weak, and it might break again. He landed square in mid-sunshine, which was out of the west, fair for each of the two men. Alvorn had adrawn revolver, but he held the muzzle.pointed straight down. Letare hesitated. It was the making sure that his plea of self-defense would hold good. Then Letare snatched his own revolvers from his hips. He had two. As they i ill te hi Mle t peste: Z- x 7 Wah afl : \ Z i Nl ‘ HAR iyhiate , Z = wy \ » \ \f SESSS Soe 4 ie ALF a dozen men were sitting in the back room of Benjamin’s bar in Johannesburg, wishing that something would turn up. They had finished playing poker a couple of hours ago, the remit- tance man’s last instalment from home seven-and-a-_ \ M * <x » ~NN Sand Lane ‘kt On 3 oe CF A M (ehstor Adventure cleared the holsters, Alvorn with incredible swiftness shot the right one from the rancher’s hand, smashing the wrist that supported it. Then Alvorn shot the other arm of Letare, pulverizing the elbow joint. Letare, when his two revolvers fell to the ground, threw both arms into the air, and screamed for his life as the broken ends lopped down. Attorney Habrey came “running. He watched the two men, victor and van- quished, hesitating exactly what to do, which side to take in this affair. He com- promised, turning to Alvorn, demanding— “Why the didn’t you finish this jobP”’ “I have done my part. yours! And you, too, sheriff!’ Alvorn said, deliberately. ‘‘For years you’ve watched that scoundrel hound me, and let him do it. Go to it, sheriff! Go arrest him - ‘“‘Look here—”’ Habrey interrupted. “Or I'll go telegraph the governor a de- mand for your removal!” Habrey turned white. turned blue lipped. “Go get him!’ Habrey shuddered. rest him, sheriff— to be witnesses. murder!”’ Sheriff Darnell ‘““Ar- You know—we all got The charge is attempted being by that time completely exhausted. A native boy had just brought in the eighth instalment of whisky and water; and the little room was so thick with smoke and so stuffy with the horrid, pungent fumes of Boer tobacco that the average man would not have been able either to see NOOK Now you do (©