Adventure Magazine Cover — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

THE BUCKAROO OF BLUE WELLS “No, I know yuh didn’t; but yuh hinted at it. If Tex hears this, he’ll hit yuh with somethin’ besides his fist.” “I suppose.”’ Lee looked gloomily at the wall, one eye half shut from the pain in his jaw. Came the sound of a step at the doorway, and Tex Alden came in. Barnhardt jerked up his head quickly and stared at the man who had knocked him cold. “Hello, Scotty,” said Tex evenly. He did not speak to Barnhardt, as he came up to the lawyer’s desk, drawing a bulky package from his pocket. “TI owe yuh that much, Barnhardt,” Tex said coldly. ‘“Mebbe yuh better count it.” Barnhardt swallowed heavily, but made no move to pick up the money. Tex eyed him for a moment, turned and walked out, without saying anything more. Barnhardt shifted uneasily, but finally picked up the package, walked to his small safe, opened it with a key, and put away the package. He came back and sat down, making no explanation. “Tex wasn’t very cheerful,’ observed Scotty. Barnhardt shook his head and sighed deeply. “T think T’ll take a little trip, Scotty; kinda get away until time for that trial. I’ve been pretty steady on the job for two years, and a little change would do me good.” ‘“‘A change does anybody good,” admitted the sheriff. “I’d like to go with yuh. What’ll yuh do, close yore office?”’ . “T think so. I won’t be gone more than a week, but I think, under the circum- stances, I should go away until things clear a little.” “IT suppose so, Lee.” The sheriff thought it would really be a wise thing for Barnhardt to go away for a while, and he said so to Hashknife that evening, when Hashknife stopped at the office for a few minutes. They were dis- cussing the incident at the Double Bar 8, and Hashknife wondered how Barnhardt’s jaw was feeling. The sheriff told of Tex’s bringing a package of money to Lee Barn- hardt, and he also told Hashknife what Barnhardt had said about Tex knowing about that shipment of money. “T wouldn’t tell that to anybody else,”’ said the sheriff. “But it appears that you’re workin’ on the case, and yuh ought to know about these things.” 67 “When does Barnhardt intend to leave?” asked Hashknife. “He didn’t say; but I expect he’ll leave tomorrow. Between me and you, he’s scared of Tex Alden, and he wants to git away for a few days to let Tex cool off. Lee talks too —— much.” ‘“That’s a human failin’,’”’ smiled Hash- knife. But Lee Barnhardt did not go on any trip. When he got up the following morn- ing he found that some one had opened his safe during the night, and had looted it of everything it contained. The bank did not have a safety vault; so Barnhardt found himself cleaned out, as everything he owned was in his own safe. He sat down at his desk and stared at the empty valise, which he had brought along and placed beside the safe. His clothes were packed in a larger valise. He seemed stunned, his vacant gaze fixed upon the half-open door of the safe. The fruits of two years’ work had been in that safe, when he locked the office the night before. He had never feared a rob- bery, because a lawyer’s safe usually only held papers, of no value to any one, except to the lawyer. : His dazed condition passed, leaving him in a state of perspiration. He got to his feet and staggered over to the safe, peering within, trying to convince himself that it was only a dream. He went to the front door and gazed out at the street. It was fairly early in the morning, and there were few people in evidence. He heard the train leave the station; the train he had intended leaving on, and he turned away, choking a curse. He went to his desk, and with shaking fin- gers he opened a drawer and took out a re- volver, which he put in his pocket. He un- buttoned his vest, disclosing a narrow strap across his bosom, attesting to the fact that he was wearing a shoulder-holster. Then he sat down, trying to think just what to do. “T’ve got to find Tex Alden,” he told him- self. ‘Tex saw me put that money in my safe. him, he paid his debt before a witness, and then took it back—took every- thing in the safe. If he don’t give it back to me, I’ll kill him.” He flung the two valises behind his desk and walked to the door. Al Porter was coming toward the office. Barnhardt tried to appear indifferent, although he knew COMICOOOKS Cc C@