The Argosy, March 27, 1920 — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

* - THE TRAIL HORDE. 249 him that he had rustled cattle for Singleton. He now believed that Singleton had dis- posed of the stolen cattle through Antrim; and the conviction that Singleton was be- hind the action of the outlaw in trailing the herd through the country seized him, In an instant—following Blackburn’s ex- clamation—he was aroused to the danger that confronted himself and his men. As though by previous arrangement, the men looked at him, noted the tenseness that had come over him, listened attentively when he spoke: “ Boys, don’t offer to throw a gun. I know Antrim. He’s a killer, and his men are like him. Take it easy—keep cool. The mar who loses his temper will be guilty of the wholesale murder that will follow. When Antrim rides up, send him after me/”’ He had not unsadded Red King. He strode to the horse, swung into the saddle, and rode eastward, away from the advanc- Ing riders. Blank astonishment, puzzled bewilder- ment, shone in the eyes of the Circle L men as they watched him, and into the hearts of some of them crept the conviction that Law- ler had deserted them; that he was afraid of the outlaw chief. Blackburn saw what they thought, and his burning eyes bored into them with sar- casm unutterable. He laughed hoarsely, with a grim mirth that startled them. “Don’t you worry about Lawler’s nerve, boys; he’s got more of it than the bunch of us put together! He’s got some scheme in mind. You guys just set tight until you find out what it is. Do as he told you. Don’t let that scurvy gang know that you're flabbergasted!” When Lawler rode away there was a noticeable commotion in the group of ad- vancing horsemen. One of them left the group, spurring his horse in the direction taken by Lawler. He must have been called back, for he wheeled his mount after he had ridden a dozen paces or so, and rejoined his companions, who came on as before. When the horsemen came to a halt near the fire, they were spread in a semicircle about the Circle L men and in their bronzed, immobile faces was no answer to the ques- tion that agitated Blackburn and the others. They had halted at a little distance from the fire, and one of them, a tall, slender, keen-eyed, thin-lipped man, urged his horse out of the circle and insolently inspected Blackburn and his cowboys. There was a sinister light in his eyes, a lurking threat in his manner. “What outfit is this?” he demanded, “Circle L, from Wolf River,” answered Blackburn. “ Where you headin’?,” “To Red Rock.” “ Railroad out of business?” jeered the outlaw. “Far as the Circle L is concerned, it is, Antrim,” smiled Blackburn. “We had a fuss, an’ quit ’em.” The-outlaw peered intently at the other. Then he grinned? “Tt’s Andy Blackburn!” he said. Glad to meet you, Blackburn. This seems like old times—before the railroad went through; when old Luke Lawler used to jam "em to Red Rock—sometimes—when he didn’t pick up too many strays on the way.” He laughed as though pleased over the yecollection. ‘‘ Got this stock vented, Blackburn?” “Nary a vent, Antrim; the inspector wasn’t feelin’ in the humor.” “Ha!” exclaimed Antrim; “so you didn’t get no vent. Well, we’re aimin’ to look through your herd. We've been miss- in’ cattle all summer—from my ranch, the Circle Bar. About three thousand head. We've traced ’em as far as Kinney’s Cafion, an’ lost ‘em. But we’ve been thinkin’, Blackburn, that it ain’t no hard job to make a passable Circle L out of a Circle Bar. That’s why we aim to look your cattle over.”” He grinned slightly at Blackburn’s scowl, aware of the impotent rage the latter felt over the greatest insult that could be offered an honest cattleman. For an instant he watched Blackburn keenly, his lips sneer- ing; and then he said sharply: “Who was that guy that rode away as we come up?” “Lawler,” said Blackburn. ‘“ He’s fig- gerin’ on seein’ you alone, looks like. He left word that when you come I was to tell you he wanted to see you.” comicbooksscom