Adventure Magazine Cover — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUCKAROO OF BLUE WELLS for the AK outfit who is named Jimmy Legg.” “James Eaton Legg,” said Marion sol- emnly. “He said it sounded like a cannibal. I don’t know a thing about him, except that he came to Blue Wells the night of the rob- bery. Johnny Grant took a liking to him, and took him out to the AK, where he’s been falling off horses ever since. He says he’s going to learn to be a cowboy, if he lives long enough—and that’s all I know about him ? “Not much,” mused Hashknife. ‘Nice boy?” “Certainly he’s nice,” said Marion, with- out hesitation. “T s’pose so,” smiled Hashknife. ‘Bein’ as yo re the boss of this outfit, suppose yuh tell us what yuh want done today.” “T don’t know,” she confessed. “Sup- pose you spend the day in getting used to the place.” “All right. Mebbe we'll corral a few horses and look ’em over. If we handle the round-up for the Double Bar 8, we’re goin’ to need a remuda.”’ “Sure. Suppose you ride back to Blue Wells some time today and bring back the three that are in the livery-stable. We forgot them.” “That’s right. How about the chuck- wagon?” “Oh, I forgot about that. We have al- ways used the X Bar 6 outfit wagons. Tex Alden has always insisted that our outfit was too small to run their own chuck- wagon. But this year—”’ Marion’s pause was significant. Hash- knife realized that everything was not right between the Taylor family and Alden. “He didn’t invite yuh to share his chuck, eh?” Marion shook her head slowly. “T guess we'll get along all right.” “Y’betcha,” warmly. ‘‘We’ll kinda look things over, Miss Taylor.” “And now that we’re well enough ac- quainted for you to call me Marion—”’ “Oh, all right,” laughed Hashknife. He joined Sleepy in the patio, and they inspected the stables and corrals, with Apollo following them like a dog, trying to nip the brims of their hats. It was possibly half an hour later that Lee Barnhardt rode in at the ranch, and the Blue Wells attorney was a sight for sore eyes. His mount was a sway-backed 47 sorrel, with a long neck and a whispy tail. Barnhardt did not wear chaps, and the action of the horse had wrinkled his trous- ers, until the bottoms were up to his knees, showing an expanse of skinny leg and a pair of mismated socks. On his head he wore a sombrero, which was too small for him, and a flannel shirt, so large around the neck that one could easily catch a glimpse of his collar-bone. He nodded pleasantly to Hashknife and Sleepy and dismounted, allowing his trou- sers to resume a normal attitude toward his legs. “T just rode out to see how things were going,” he explained. “I spoke to Mr. Taylor about it.” “Well, yuh don’t need to apologize,” grinned Hashknife. “Of course yuh got here pretty early in the mornm’ to find anythin’ goin’ on. That’s quite a bronc you've got.” “Yes; he’s all right. Not much for looks, but reliable. Is Miss Taylor at home?” “T think you'll find her in the house.” “Thank you.” Barnhardt dusted off his clothes, with a flap of his hands, and headed toward the house, while Hashknife and Sleepy grinned at each other. “‘That,”’ said Hashknife seriously, ‘“‘is the attorney.” “T’m disappointed,” said Sleepy seri- ously. “Yuh don’t need to be, Sleepy. Hello! Here comes the next.chapter.”’ Jimmy Legg had arrived at the Double Bar 8, with his head swathed in bandages, his sombrero cocked at an angle. He slid out of his saddle, hitched up his belt and gazed soberly at the two cowboys. “Hello,” he said. ““Hlow’s the head?” asked Hashknife. “Gee, it sure was sore this morning. I didn’t sleep much last night. I guess I was scared,” Jimmy grinned widely. ‘Got to thinking how close I came to getting me a harp. Honest, it was an awful dream. You see, I’m not musical at all.” The two cowboys grinned with Jimmy. He looked at the lawyer’s horse quizzically. “Who rides that thing?”’ he asked. “An attorney from Blue Wells,” said Hashknife. “Oh, Lee Barnhardt? Well,” Jimmy hitched up his belt, “it looks like him. They’ve both got the same shape neck.” COnnicloool< (C@