Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

Stark of Auburn “That is all right, my friend,” says he. “First give us the one who killed Junius Frére. Then we will go.” “T’ve told you that Frére isn’t dead, that he’s not badly hurt,”’ says Mr. John, “and I’ll tell you further that I have my prisoner and mean to protect him. Now you get! I’ll give you one minute to start.” As he spoke he slipped out his gun. Lazie didn’t answer. He’d been lookin’ at the office, and what he saw there had wiped the grin off his face. All at once he piled out of his saddle and started forward on foot. “A moment,’’sayshe. ‘There is M’sieur the Major. I will speak to him first. After all it is his place.” It was the one thing we none of us ex- pected. For a moment we was all off our guard. And that moment was enough. Before it was over Lazie had slipped past and behind Mr. John, out of his range. The next second he’d flashed round and planted the muzzle of his ten gage square in the middle of Mr. John’s back. He was smart, that cajun, as smart as he was quick. Before we knew what was happenin’, he had Mr. John covered and was facin’ his men. He didn’t bother about us. He knew he had us too. I caught all this with the back of my mind. Just then the main part of it was busy with somethin’ else, somethin’ I’d been waitin’ and hopin’ for for a mighty long time. It was my chance, and I took it on the run. “Major,” I mumbles, “I’m goin’ to get that big cajun. Once he’s out of it——” Before I could get any further he had me by the wrist and was snortin’ in my ear. “You fool!” says he, “don’t you know he’ll pull that trigger? You can’t kill him quick enough.” “All right,’”’ I comes back at him, “TI just wanted to show you. That’s the way Bad-Eye had me. That’s why Mr. John didn’t shoot. Bein’ on the off side you couldn’t see.”’ The major didn’t say anything. But, from the way he looked at me, I knew I was only saved by our havin’ more pressin’ business on hand. It was hard to stand there helpless. We could only watch for a chance while Lazie called on his men. “Forward!” he yells. Nove is your time.” “We have them. 65 This was true, but those cajuns hesi- tated. They’d had time on their ride to cool down some, and perhaps they figured that lynchin’ Bad-Eye and cleanin’ out Auburn was too different things. Anyway they hung back while Lazie cussed and raved till he went clean wild. In the end he lost his head complete, and started in to lead ’em himself. “Cowards!” he screams, ‘follow me!” And he swung round, wavin’ his gun in the air. The major and I pulled down on him, but it wasn’t necessary. We'd only half sighted out rifles when Mr. John took a hand in the game. Up to then he’d stood frozen, which was all he could do. Now he hit as he whirled, puttin’ everything he had into the blow. It caught Lazie just behind the jaw and sent him staggerin’ Before he could re- cover himself, Mr. John had piled into him and was slashin’ him right and left. Lazie threw his gun aside. Just then it wasn’t any good to him. And when he took to his fists a second later, they wasn’t much better. He had the size and strength, but Mr. John had the science. I’m here to say he made the most of it. It was all over before it had begun real good., The first time Lazie went down he stayed there. And after his friends had picked him up, they forgot all about Bad- Eye and started back to town. There wasn’t any more argument. That fight just naturally settled the business. That’s the way. with most mobs, I reckon. Finish the leader, and they’re done. VIII ¢« I DRAGGED back the chest and &) unlocked the door, and the major went out on the lawn. I wish I could say that he called out—“My son!” and grabbed Mr. John in his arms, but he wasn’t built like that. He just stood for a while, watchin’ the mob trail away, and when he finally spoke, it was to me. “Mr. Wilson,” he orders, “get your horse, and see that scum off this place. When the last one is in the parish road, lock the gate and report to me here.”’ I didn’t hurry about it. He and Mr. John might have a lot to say to each other or again they might not. Whichever it CoMmiclbool< Wh) C© 5}