Adventure Magazine Cover — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

32 “Having cowboys thrown off at your feet?” grinned Jimmy. Marion flushed slightly. “No, this is the first time. But you see, you are not a regular cowpuncher.”’ “I suppose that does make a difference. Perhaps we better start walking, Miss Taylor.” “Well, if you insist. I can let you have a horse to ride back to the AK.”’ “That will be fine. We should be at your ranch in an hour.” “But we won’t,” laughed Marion. “Any time you walk three miles an hour through this sand, the State of Arizona will give you a medal for bravery. In about fifteen minutes you'll decide that high-heeled boots were never made for walking.”’ It did not take Jimmy Legg that long to find it out. His left boot rubbed a blister on his heel, and his right boot creased deeply across his toes, adding several more blisters to his grand total. But he gritted his teeth and said nothing. “Next time I go riding alone,” panted Jimmy, “I’m going to tie the lead-rope around my waist. Then, if my horse throws me off and tries to go home, he’ll have to drag me along.”’ ““You’ve got silk socks on, haven’t you?” asked Marion. Jimmy admitted that he had. “No good,” said Marion. ‘Stylish, but terrible. Wear woolen socks.”’ “You make me ashamed,” confessed Jimmy. “You travel along as though it was nothing, while I’m having an awful time. All I need is a handful of lead-pencils and I’d be a first-class cripple.” The last mile was exquisite torture, but Jimmy managed to stumble into the patio of the Double Bar 8 and sit down on the well-curb. He took off his boots, while Marion drew a fresh bucket of water. His feet were so swollen that he could hardly get the boots off, and his silk socks were in shreds. He sat on the edge of the curb and soaked his feet in the cold water of the trough, while Marion found him a pair of Buck’s socks. “Do you still think there is romance?”’ she asked, as he grimaced over his blisters. He looked up at her, forgetting the pain in his feet. “Ves,” he said honestly. “You are the Beautiful Lady, and I am the Knight of the W. C. TUTTLE Blistered Feet.”” He laughed softly. “As soon as I can get my boots on, I shall try and slay a dragon for you.” “Tt isn’t going to be a hard season on dragons,” smiled the girl. “Unless all signs fail, you are going to have a hard time getting those boots on.” There was no one else at the ranch. A mocking-bird sang from the patio wall, and a huge pepper tree threw a shade across the two at the well. “Let’s forget about blistered feet,’ said Jimmy Legg. ‘Tell me about this coun- try, Miss Taylor. I’m a tenderfoot—and, oh so tender just now,” he laughed ruefully. “But I don’t mind. I didn’t know there were girls like you in this country. I’ve read stories of Arizona, where the handsome hero fought forty men, and won the heroine, who was very beautiful. But it doesn’t seem true to me, because I haven’t seen forty men since I came.” “And there are no beautiful heroines,” she said. “Well,” smiled Jimmy, “they didn’t have to do any heroic things. They were merely the central figure—some one to do great things for, don’t you see.” “IT suppose so,” smiled the girl. “But forty Arizona men would be rather a hand- ful for one man to whip.” Jimmy nodded seriously. ‘Yes, I suppose a man would have to have quite an incentive.” “He might start in on one and work his way up,” said a strange voice. They turned quickly to see Tex Alden, who had come in so softly that they did not hear him. Perhaps they were too engrossed in their own conversation to hear him. Tex smiled at Marion, but the look he gave Jimmy was anything but friendly. ‘Hello Tex,” said Marion. ‘We didn’t hear you ride up.” “Naturally.” Marion ignored his sarcasm. ‘Tex Alden, this is Mr. Legg,”’ she said. “From the AK,” supplemented Jimmy. ‘Runnin’ a dude ranch out there, are they?” Tex did not offer his hand to Jimmy, who did not offer his. Marion explained how she had lost her horse, and of how she and Jimmy had met in the hills. But Tex could not see any humor in the situation. It was too much of a coincidence to suit him. “Outside of that,” he said dryly, “T’ve got COMmMiCoooks Cc (C@