Adventure Magazine Cover — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

164, “No use arguin’, I reckon,” grinned Shorty sadly. ‘‘It 7s askin’ a good deal uh you to grab my story. But I’m givin’ it to yuh straight. You seem to kinda side in with the Steve feller on this.” ‘“‘Why not?” snapped the sheriff. “No sane man would be danged fool enough to butcher an off-colored spotted critter like that.”” He pointed to the spotted hide that was soaking in a tub of water in the corner. ‘‘And he wouldn’t leave the brand on the hide. I know Steve Dunlap is tellin’ the truth. Ribs Austin is framin’ him and you two strangers and that breed is doin’ his dirty work. I don’t like this Slash R spread ner the gent that owns it. And I ain’t wastin’ no kind feelin’s on the gents that work for such a spread. Shut the door when yuh go out.” The sheriff turned once more to the papers on his desk. Shorty reddened with anger at the insult, then grinned. With a tinkle of spurs he crossed to the.door and obeyed the officer’s orders to close it after him. A dark blot moved in the ‘shadow of the building. The blot took shape and Shorty recognized Tad. There was a moment of whispered conversation and Shorty moved on down the street. Tad flattened himself against the shadow of the building. Shorty lighted a cigaret and moved down the dimly lighted street. When he was about fifty yards from the sheriff’s office, he paused. The street seemed deserted. Ducking between two buildings, the little cow-puncher deliberately drew his .45 and emptied it into the air. The effect of those six rapid shots was startling. The deserted street was lined with men, shouting and asking one another who had been shot. Cow-punchers, sheep- herders, white-aproned bar-tenders and hatchet-faced gamblers peering from under their green eyeshades into the deceptive darkness. Shorty reloaded his gun and slipped un- obtrusively into the excited crowd. The sheriff, panting from an unaccus- tomed sprint, scanned the motley sea of faces. ‘‘Who done that shootin’?” he barked. “Speak up, some uh you!” ‘“‘Must ’a’ been some drunk,” volunteered ‘a bar-tender. “There was six shots and they all came from one gun, sounded like,” put in a cow- Adventure puncher. ‘Reckon it was jest some waddie feelin’ his oats and shootin’ at the stars.” A fifteen minute search seemed to satisfy the sheriff and he went back to his office grumbling and voicing his opinion, in rather strong language, of drunken cow-punchers that couldn’t keep their guns where they belonged. Shorty got his horse from the sheriff’s hitch-rack and rode to the livery barn. He unsaddled and fed his horse, moving with deliberate slowness. Presently Tad rode up, dismounted and put his horse up. Together the two partners strolled up the street. - ‘“How’d yuh make out, Tad?” asked Shorty as they headed for a restaurant. “Fine as frog-hair, son,” grinned the big puncher. “I was half a mile out uh town b: the time that sheriff got back to his office.” “Git shet uh the——” “Nacherally, bone-head, er I wouldn’t be back. Grub’s what’s worryin’ me. We'll have tuh soak our spurs, I reckon.” “Looks thataway. Here we are, bustin’ the law tuh save that Steve gent and he won’t even look at us. The sheriff raw- hided me scan’lous about workin’ fer the Slash R. It’s ad.” “‘And the Patsy gal thinks we’re snakes. I shore hate tuh face that there female at the hearin’ tomorrow. Me ’n’ you has gotta testify that we seen Dunlap kill that spotted beef, Shorty. And she’ll be settin’ there lookin’ at us. Makes a man feel like a sheep thief.” The Chinaman that ran the restaurant proved more generous than Tad and Shorty had hoped for. They got supper and the promise of breakfast without parting with their spurs. Supper over, they wandered down to the livery barn and with their saddle blankets for cover, slept in the hay- mow. NS g oN. od >| proved an ordeal. Avoiding the a1 eyes of Patsy Darcey and the cold gaze of Steve, they both testified that they had seen Steve Dunlap kill a spotted yearling. Frenchy testified that he had watched Steve butcher the animal and bury the hide under the haystack. He had imme- diately ridden to the Slash R camp and Ribs had got the sheriff. Taking an- other cow-puncher for witness, they had, DOOLK nn THE hearing the following morning _ C@ inn