Adventure Magazine Cover — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUCKAROO harm, if I want to, Tex. One of these days that X Bar 6 is going to be mine.” ‘“Yea-a-ah? How do yuh figure that, Lee?” “That’s my business. You think things over, Tex.” Tex nodded shortly. “All right. What kind of a case have they got against Taylor?” “T don’t know. That Wade, the railroad detective, seems to think the dog links ’em pretty close to the case, but he’s got to wait until the engine crew and the messenger identify the dog as being the one that was on the express car.”’ “Marion says it’s a dog that picked up with them the day after the hold up. I don’t remember any such a dog around the Double Bar 8.”’ “Well, you don’t need to worry about it, do you?” ‘Why not? I expect to marry Taylor’s daughter.”’ “Well? She’s not under arrest. You better look out for Le Moyne, Tex. He’s got the same ideas that you have, and I understand that Apostle Paul thinks a lot of Le Moyne.” “Le Moyne don’t interest me, Lee.”’ “Sure he don’t. But he don’t have to interest you. Le Moyne is a handsome devil, and if I was in your boots—”’ “Well, you’re not!’ Tex flushed angrily. “T’ve got to help Marion find some woman to stay at the ranch with her. She can’t stay there alone. That —— tenderfoot from the AK was there when I left. His horse pitched him off in the hills, and he wore his feet out walkin’ to the Double Bar 8.” “His name is Legg, isn’t it?” queried Barnhardt. “Yeah.” “What else do you know about him, Tex?” “Not a thing—do you?” “Only what Johnny Grant said. Legg told him that he used to be a bookkeeper in San Francisco.”’ “Yeah? Well, he better go back and sling some more ink.” Barnhardt smiled slowly. “And he’s staying at the Double Bar 8, is he?”’ | “Not very —— long, he ain’t!”’ snapped ‘Yex. He whirled on his heel and looked down OF BLUE WELLS 35 toward the sheriff’s office, where Marion was just coming out, accompanied by the sheriff. “How long before they can identify that dog, Lee?”’ he asked. ‘“‘When the train gets in tonight, Tex.” “Uh-huh. I'll see yuh later, Lee.” “All right; and in the meantime you better think over some of the things I’ve told you.” But Tex did not reply. Marion had mounted her horse. Tex called to her, but she did not reply, as she spurred her horse to a gallop, heading toward home. Tex swore softly and went on, joining the sheriff at the doorway of the office. “Hyah, Tex,” greeted the sheriff. “All right, Scotty,” grunted Tex. lettin’ me see the Taylor family?” The sheriff shook his head. “Can’t do it, Tex. I’ve got my orders from the prosecutor. After t’night, yuh maybe can; but no chance, until after we know a little more about things.” Tex scowled heavily. ‘“‘What evidence have yuh got, Scotty?” “Dog. Answers the description.” “Yea-a-ah?”’ Tex leaned one shoulder against the wall of the building and began rolling a cigaret. He looked quizzically at the sheriff as he said— “Scotty, did yuh ever wonder why them three men locked yuh in yore own jail?”’ The sheriff considered the question grave- ly, as if it had never occurred to him before. He smiled softly and shook his head. “No; did you, Tex?”’ “Tt’s none of my business, Scotty.” “No? You don’t think Eskimo, Johnny and Oyster had anythin’ to do with the hold-up, do yuh?” “T didn’t say they did, Scotty.” “There was four men in that hold-up. Old George Bonnette was in Blue Wells that “Mind night. They’d ’a’ had to get an outsider to help ’em, Tex. We've got to find four men.” ‘But there’s only three in yore jail right now, Scotty.” “Yeah; there’s still the owner of the dog.” “Then yuh don’t think the dog belongs to Taylor?” “No, I don’t. The man who owns the dog is the man who got on the express car at Encinas, and fought with the messenger. The dog was just a blind for that man to GCOMIGIOO S (©