Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

106 awkwardly and it fell to the floor. He bent forward and picked it up with his left hand and at the same time pulled the heavy re- volver from his boot with his right hand. Then he was erect and hurling the bread into Leaper’s face and was felling him to the floor with a blow from the heavy barrel. It was all finished in two seconds. Ellis, holding his breath, stared in amaze- ment through the window as the warder of Warder’s Hill was thus summarily disposed of. He had considered Leaper to be little less than a demon. There he was on the floor, blood trickling from the wound on his shaggy head and Farnham whipping hand- cuffs from the second boot leg and snapping them on the brute’s wrists. The marshal brought Ellis out of his stupor by glancing toward the window and announcing: “All over. Come in!”’ -Leaper was not seriously hurt, for the marshal’s words were barely uttered before he roared mightily and started to get on his feet. The revolver barrel landed on his head and sent him back. When Ellis en- tered the room, the fallen giant was beating his head on the floor and tearing his mana- cled hands through his long beard. Farnham stared down at him and en- couraged: ‘Abuse yourself all you want to. here to stop you.” Leaper ceased his violence and glared at the marshal in silence. On beholding Ellis some of his cunning returned and all of his hate. He slowly rose to his feet, Farnham watching him closely. He raised his hands and sprang to bring them down on Ellis’ head. The marshal thrust forward a foot and tripped him headlong. Then the marshal snatched a piece of rope from a peg and deftly looped it around the prisoner’s ankles. “‘You’ve had enough exercise,” he said. Ellis was afraid of the man despite the ease with which Farnham had mastered him. Leaper glared at him malevolently and began his wild laughing. Ellis feared the man would remember Waggle’s talk about Skillings’ death and repeat it to the marshal. The latter prevented any imme- diate recital by saying: “T’m going to fetch the mule. Watch this man sharp. If he tries any game, belt him over the heau with a stool.” He was an easy nut to crack. No one Adventure He disappeared into the darkness and Leaper recovered his self-control enough to realize he was not furthering his’own cause. “Who is that man?” he asked of Ellis. “United States marshal from Buckskin. He saved my life after you thought you’d done for me.” “Pretty company he’s in when he comes here with you. Does he know you mur- dered Skillings?” “No one knows that. said Ellis. ‘““Waggle says it is a fact. See here, if I go to Denver with him you’ll go along, tied to me, and you'll swing,” warned Leaper. Ells did not believe he could face the prisoner’s disclosure. He stepped to the hiding place in the logs and removed the hidden money and counted it. It was the same amount taken from him that morn- It isn’t a fact,” ing. “Let me loose and save yourself trouble. You’ve got your money,” urged Leaper. “No. Farnham saved my life. Tell him what you like.” Leaper was disappointed. He was silent for a minute, then he suggested: ‘If you don’t give evidence against me in Denver I'll keep my mouth shut about Skillings. Want to trade?” Farnham had said he already had one of the man’s victims ready to give evidence. Ellis believed it would be equivalent to sur- rendering himself to the law on a charge of homicide did he appear as a witness against Leaper and thereby be compelled to give his personal history. He slowly replied: “T won’t testify against you until you tell what Waggle said. If you tell it, or if Bill Waggle tells it, Pll testify that you robbed me and tried to murder me.” “A bargain,” growled Leaper. ‘Nothing can be done to me till we reach Denver. I have friends there. Ill have word passed to Bill to keep shut about you. You'll save your neck and I'll have a chance to save mine.”’ “Tve already told Farnham you robbed me. [ll have to tell him I have it back,” informed Ellis. Leaper scowled over this; then decided: “It won’t matter if you don’t tell it in court. The bargain stands.” He made no effort to release his hands and apparently was asleep when the marshal returned. Ellis produced the money and explained seeing Leaper hide it and asked COMIGDIOOKSEEO