Adventure Magazine Cover — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

When East Met West they didn’t. Isent word to Magpie, and he answered it. IT sent him this word— Me and Dirty Shirt are in jail for upholdin’ Piperock. And this is what he sent to me— Good for you. We appreciate yore civic pride. “ He didn’t sign his name, but he didn’t need to. I sabe that hombre like a book. Dirty gets kinda gloomy over it all and swears that he’s all through with Piperock. Right there and then I adds my voice to his. “If that’s patriotism,’ says Dirty, “gimme death. Our own town has turned us down, Ike Harper. I didn’t think they’d do it. And they wouldn’t, if they wasn’t gettin’ civilized.” A little later on cometh Chuck Warner, Liniment Lucas and Testament Tilton. “You can take the preacher back,” says Dirty. “We ain’t in for murder, you know.” “Tm not in my clerical capacity,” says Testament. ‘Be ye both of good cheer.” “‘____ of anfine Saace the way Hank runs his place here,”’ snorts Dirty. “T’ve been up to Piperock,” says Chuck, wigglin’ his ears. Chuck’s got flexible ears and he can wiggle ’em like a mule. “And nobody shot yuh?” gasps Dirty. “My gosh, they’re sure gittin’ forgivin’, Chuck.” ‘They ain’t no friends to you two,” Says Chuck’seriouslike. jail down here.” Chuck Warner is the biggest liar west of the Atlantic Ocean—but this time I be- lieved him. “Magpie and Wick Smith hope yuh stay in jail,”’ says he. “Tt kinda looks like they’d git their hopes,” Dirty acts kinda mournful. “Tt kinda does,” agrees Liniment. He’s got one of them long, wet-lookin’ noses and sad eyes. I reckon his folks in- tended him to be a undertaker, but Old Lady Fate had “‘horse-thief” marked after his name in the Big Book. “Ts this here a party of condolence, or did yuh come to gloat?” I asks. —— to have folks lookin’ at me through the bars. “Condolence and good cheer,” says Testa- ment, hitchin’ up his pants. “You might call it a parley. I will go now, as it would not be meet for me to be party to it. Not “They’re glad yo’re in I hate like © 161 that I ain’t in accord with it entirely, you understand.” “Tt sure must be a tough proposition to drive you away,” observed Dirty. Old Testament pulled out, Hank unlocks the cell door, and they all comes in. And what follered kinda touched upon my heart-strings. It was Chuck’s idea. I listened to Chuck, Hank and Liniment Lu- cas, as they unfolds what’s on their minds. It has been said that every man has his price. Ours was one elephant, ene eamel and a tiger. They wants us to steal them three ani- mals for Paradise. All we’ve got to do is to hand ’em over to Paradise and all is for- given. But they’re square about it, at that; they will pay Wick Smith what he paid for em; and give us a hundred apiece. “And Piperock ain’t treated you two square,” says Chuck. “Thassall right,” says I, “but yuh can’t get away with any thing like that, Chuck. It wouldn’t be hard for Piperock to prove that they owned ’em, cause they’re ail there is of the species in Yaller Roek County.” “‘We’ve fixed that all up,” says Chuck. “‘Don’tcha worry about that end of it. You fellers go back home, feelin’ sore at Paradise, and nobody will expect yuh to raid the zoo; sabe?” WE WENT home, after swearin’ to do our little best, and we finds Sa > Magpie in the shack, composin’ some more stuff. We don’t say nothin’ about his kind note to us, and he don’t mention it to us. “Still tryin’ to uplift Piperock on paper?” ~~ iar I asks. “Combatin’ a evil influence, Ike. We | are the pioneers—others foller. Some one is tryin’ to steal our thunder.” “You got plenty of it,” declares Dirty. “They could swipe a lot of it from you and still leave enough for a dozen men.” “Sarcasm is the weapon of the ignorant,” says Magpie. “What heard ye in Para- dise?” ‘Nothin’ much.” “No? Huh. Did yuh know that Para- dise is emulatin’ us—or is goin’ to?” “All fools ain’t dead yet,” opines Dirty Shirt. ““They’ve ordered a elephant, camel and a tiger,” says Magpie. ‘“‘They’re payin’ a big Eomichbooks.com