Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

Pards when his excellency. had characterized gambling as a phase, something transient. Less directly Dr. Reid had said the same thing. After the three had returned to the street Goss sternly told his companions— “Tf either of you ever meet up with the Pilgrim or his sister you needn’t mention that I ever play cards.” “Hiding your light under a_ basket,” sniffed Ancient. ‘‘Such a thing as a man being too modest. But what you say goes. Now we'll go to Hall’s and see if we can make Pike’s Peak hear us hoot.” “It’s a winter’s grubstake. Don’t throw your money away,” Goss said, but having little faith in the restraining influence of his warning. “(TH watch over him,” gruffly assured Hasty. ‘‘He sha’n’t make a fool of himself this time. Ancient, you hand over half that money. We'll drink t’other half.” “You’re hard not to trust me, Joey,” re- buked Ancient. “I’m dividing it in the dark.” And he halted long enough to separate the gold and script into two por- tions. ON ENTERING the saloon Goss excused himself from partaking of Ancient’s treat and lost no time in a=3 paying for the provisions. ‘Since giving - Ellis money at Twin Lakes he had purchased two horses for himself and Euclid and had insisted on Ellis accepting a second loan the night they departed from Denver. These expenditures and _ loans, added to the six hundred dollars paid for the ranch, left considerably less than a thousand dollars out of the two thousand dollars he had possessed on the eve of leav- ing California Gulch. The two thousand had been his reserve ~fund. When he took from it he was un- easy until it was restored. His vocation called for capital. He never played so shrewdly and successfully, he believed, as when having ample funds. He considered it to be imperative that he increase his capi- tal at once. He spoke again to Hall about the miners camping on Grape Creek. “They’re wild-looking fellows. Showed plenty of dust in paying for their grub and whisky. From their talk I could see they had hit it rich. One of the best crowds in the world for you to keep away from. In the morning they’ll ride across to Chan- dler’s Creek, avoiding the valley road.” I2]I “Thanks. ll leave my supplies here and call for them in the morning. If I forget to come back send them down to Ancient’s ranch. By him or Frazer or any of the neighbors.” ‘“‘Now you know better than to do this,” remonstrated Hall. ‘You’re too likely a young man to hurry yourself into. a hole in the ground or into Grape Creek. I’m mighty sorry I mentioned those fellows.” “That’s the best bet on the table,” heartily agreed Goss. ‘‘Good night.” He was through the doorway, unheeding Ancient Days’ pleading that he tarry for just one snifter. He had left his horse hitched in front of the stone house, one hundred feet long, built by Majors and Russell in the flush days before the war and when Cafion City could boast of a larger stock of goods than could be found even in Den- ver. He was soon clear of the town, the few lighted houses, and those silent and empty. The Utes’ fire on Signal Mountain had burned out. He forded the river and took the Wet Mountain Valley path that led through the Grape Creek cafion. Matured in the Wet Mountain Valley and garnished with the wild vines that give its name Grape Creek has conquered the red rocks and takes its ease between gently sloping hills as it nears the Arkansas. Under the starlight Goss could discern the shape of these hills clothed with stunted spruce and pifion, as he rode up the creek. There were stretches of grass, and where the soil was thin and poor there were the sharp points of bush cactus. But the gambler’s thoughts were not on the beauties of the starlit hills as he slowly rode, search- ing ahead for a light and listening for sounds of a carousal. He halted on hearing the dull report of a pistol. After a few minutes of waiting without the ominous sound being repeated, he rode on. Rounding a curve in the trail he came in sight of two yellowish blurs of light and knew his journey had ended. He dismounted and led his horse forward until he could make out the squat outlines of a log house. Throwing the reins over the low-hanging branch of a spruce he recon- noitered one oi the lighted windows. That there was no tragedy attached to the pistol shot was evidenced by the strains of ‘Dixie’ coming through the glassless window. Also he could hear a man talking COMIGDIOOKSEEO