Adventure Magazine Cover — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUCKAROO “Well, not awful well.” ‘“‘Well enough to call her Marion.” ‘She asked me to call her that. But that’s all right, isn’t it?”’ “It’s all right with me. But it got under the hide of that lawyer.”’ “Tt’s none of his business.” ‘“‘No-o-o, I suppose not, Jimmy. Have you any idea who shot yuh?” Jimmy started to speak, changed his mind, and shook his head. “I heard,” said Hashknife slowly, ‘that two prominent young men in this communi- ty had declared their intentions of marryin’ this young lady.” “Oh, I know that,’ said Jimmy quickly. “Tex Alden and Chet Le Moyne. But that doesn’t make any difference to me.” “I see,” Hashknife grinned widely. “You'll make it a three-cornered affair, eh?” “Not at all. You see, I—I hardly know the lady. She was nice to me, and I ap- preciate it. But I never said I wanted to marry her.” “You’ve met Chet Le Moyne?” “Ves, ’ve met him. We were introduced at the Oasis saloon.” “Where did you meet Tex Alden?” “T never was introduced to him, but I— I talked to him here.”’ “Yeah? And he told yuh to keep away, didn’t he?”’ Jimmy looked at Hashknife in amaze- ment. aes “Why, how did you know that?” “T didn’t,” smiled Hashknife. you’d correct me, if I was wrong.” Jimmy rubbed his nose and grinned foolishly. “That’s one way of finding out, I suppose. Yes, he did tell me to keep away from here.” “And that night you got shot.” “Gee! Do you think he shot me?” Hashknife smiled softly over the manu- facture of another cigaret, but did not answer. “What do you think I ought to do?” queried Jimmy. “Just forget it,” replied Hashknife. “You don’t know anything about it, Jimmy.” “T know, but—” J.mmy hesitated awk- wardly. ‘But he—whoever fired that shot—wanted to kill me, didn’t they? Don’t you suppose they’ll try again?” “Undoubtedly.” 7 “Gee, that puts me in a fine position!” 4 “1. knew OF BLUE WELLS 49 “Yea-a-ah, it does. You ought to grab a train and high-tail it out of this country.” Jimmy thought it over seriously, the smoke from his cigaret drifting up into his eyes. “No,” he said finally, “I won’t go. I’ve never injured any one, and I’m not going to run away.” ‘“‘And take chances on bein’ killed?” Jimmy nodded. “Yes; it’s allright. I might belucky.” | Hashknife held out his hand to Jimmy, as he said, “Young man, you belong. I wouldn’t blame yuh if yuh ran away. We’re just a pair of ordinary human beings, but we’re backin’ yore play.” “Gee, that’s nice of you! I’m not much good—not alone. I didn’t come here with the idea of becoming a gunman, but I wish somebody would show me something about a revolver. It tries to jump out of my hand every time I shoot it, and I can’t hit a five-gallon can at ten feet. Really, a fellow should know something about a gun—if somebody is trying to kill him.” “Tt might come in handy,” smiled Hash- knife. ‘Neither of us are good shots, but we can show you how to point a gun.” “Fine! And to draw one real fast, like Johnny Grant can?” “T’ve never seen Johnny Grant draw a gun. I’ve found that it isn’t all in the speed. Too much speed wastes the first shot. Never reach for a gun, unless you mean to use it, and when you do reach, draw and shoot deliberately. Split-second gunmen don’t hit anythin’. And another thing, Jimmy—don’t shoot, unless yo’re in the right. Bein’ right to start with will win nine times out of ten. You know it and the other man knows it.” “YT think I know what you mean, Mr. Hartley.” “Pm glad yuh do—and my name’s Hashknife—to them that belong.” Jimmy grinned widely. It was the first time that any one had even intimated that he might “belong,” and his heart filled with gratitude toward this tall, serious-faced cowboy, who had admitted him to the brotherhood of cowpunchers. “But you'll never make a cowpuncher out of yourself, by gettin’ pitched off every bronc yuh see,” declared Sleepy. ‘Bein’ a cow-hand don’t necessarily mean that yuh can ride anythin’ that wears hair. COMICOOokKS Cc C@