Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

IIo “The News printed a piece about Skill- ings’ death. Said the Pilgrim skipped out and.is wanted. I know things. You keep your yap shut and I'll keep mine shut. Just tell him to remember his bargain.” Goss stared at him stonily for a moment, then said: “All right. to meet him?”’ ‘Cause he’s here in Denver somewhere. ve tried to locate him and tell him to git out of town. I saw you leaving Heatly’s place and trailed you till I could find you in a crowd like this. The younker will be in his last bit of trouble if he’s found by cer- tain folks and goes to blatting. If he keeps his word and clears out my friends will keep mum.” “I’m no talker,” repeated Goss. ‘But if ever I drop a gun on you again your troubles will be all over, so far as the moun- tain country’s concerned. That woman has nerve.” And he gazed at the tight-rope walker now finishing her aerial journey at an open window. When he turned his head Waggle had dis- appeared. The gambler remained, staring at the window, seemingly much interested in the exhibition. Inwardly he was much perturbed by the ruffian’s talk. He had trained his face and nerves but he never could train his heart. Prematurely experi- enced in concealing his feelings he was none the lesshuman. Having acted as Ellis’ pro- tector he found he was unable to put aside his sense of responsibility. | ‘Young idiot!’ he muttered as he turned up the street. “And where did that skunk see him after he left us at Twin Lakes? Says he knows he’s in Denver. He couldn’t have seen him here, or he’d talked to him and wouldn’t be sending any word by me. Wonder if he really knows he’s here, or if he thinks it and was trying to learn something definite from me?”’ He went back to the Broadwell House and wandered into the bar. Only by a strong effort did he maintain his bored bearing once he saw- Whip King, whip in hand and with the dust of the trail on his shoulders, leaning against the upper end of the bar and talking with a number of freighters. Whip King called out to him. Goss ac- knowledged the greeting with a gesture and went to the other end of the bar and ordered a glass of lager. After a few minutes Whip But why think I’m likely Adventure King quit the group and came down the bar and greeted— ““How’s tricks?” Goss waited until the bartender filled a second glass and returned to wait on the freighters, then replied: “Rather bad. The Singing Pilgrim was to meet me here. Just heard he’s in Den- ver, but I can’t locate him.”’ And he sketched his adventures among the Utes and about Ellis starting alone from Twin Lakes to make the city. For the moment Whip King’s interest was not on Ellis, for he exclaimed: “Euclid snagged by Injuns! Bet he talked them crazy. Now down in Cafion City. If that don’t beat all nature!”’ “I’m more concerned about the Pilgrim. Euclid isn’t wanted for anything, or by anybody. He’d drive me crazy in a month.”’ “Tf the Pilgrim is here he’ll be showing up. I went after a man down on the Canadian once and found him. Oughter be easy to locate a man in this town. My friends up the line—” he nodded toward the freighters at the end of the bar—“‘was just telling me that United States Marshal Farnham has fetched in a man from below the Salt Works. Jonathan Leaper by name. Believed to have killed several miners arriving out of the mines. It’s believed he’s one of the gang that’s been raising so much *tween here’n Taos for the last two years. They say there’s two witnesses against him that’ll spike him into a wooden box sure’s some steers are wild. Got extry guards so’s none of the gang will git him loose.”’ The last sentence interested Goss as it suggested a possible reason for Waggle’s presence in town. He did not mention Waggle to Whip King, for there was sud- denly born in his mind the suspicion that harm would come to Ellis if the ruffian were arrested. There was the bargain Waggle intimated Ellis had made with some one. Goss finally said: “Whip King, I’m in trouble. IJ must find Ellis at once if he’s here in Denver. TJ] give the town a real combing this time. He was to call here. No one by the name of Ellis has shown up.” ‘Probably shifted his name.” “That may be, but he’d be as safe under his own name. Only two ways he can be recognized, by some one who knew him in California Gulch or by his singing voice. I'll try the desk again.” COMIGDIOOKSEEO