Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

THE STRAY-MAN, “ Yellow—eh?” smiled Shorty. “ Well, it’s a standin’ invitation. But I’m tellin’ you this: The next time you go for your ~gun when I’m around there won't be no sluggin’ goin’ on. I reckon that’s about all for the present.” He grinned widely at the man on the black horse, swept the faces-of the men in the group with a glance in which there was a trace of cold amusement; then deliber- ately turned his back te all of them and walked unconcernedly down the street to where Red King was standing. He meunt- ed Red King and rode off without glancing back. Dozens of persens watched his progress; and many of these who watched him were rigid with a fear that as he walked one of the men in the group would speed a bullet into his broad back. But not a man who watched him moved a hand until he reached Red King. And then rose a concerted sigh of relief and ad- miration. The man on the black horse laughed jeeringly as he looked at the men in the group around Blandell. “Nerve?” he said with brevity at once eloquent and significant. ‘‘ Well, I reckon!”’ He laughed again and rode down the street, heading into the west. ' A man in the group looked after him, grunting expressively. ‘“‘ Nerve—eh?” he said. there’s a pair of ’em.”’ “TT reckon CHAPTER IX. SETTING A SCORE. HORTY rode Red King tv the livery- stable, where he removed the trappings . from the animal, rubbed him down; then watered and fed him. While Red King munched his grain Shorty leaned against a door-jamb at the front of the stable reflectively watching what he could see of Loma. During his pilgrimage he had formed the habit of questioning every man he came in contact with, never concluding a con- versation without having mentioned the name, Brail Kelton. Since he had been in the livery-stable. 427 ‘Loma, however, he had talked with three men, not including Blandell. And Brail Kelton’s name had not passed his lips. Shorty was not disloyal to the memory of his friend. The determination to punish Larry’s murderer was as strong in him as ever yet this morning he could not keep his mind upon Larry. He flushed guiltily as he reakzed that the girl of the water-hole had usurped the place in his mind previous- ly occupied by Larry Dillon. As he stood in the doorway his lips moved; low words came from them: ‘“T reckon Larry will understand. There ain’t no use of a man tryin’ to fool himself —believin’ he’s dead set on doin’ one thing while all the time he’s wantin’ te do an- other. I ain’t wantin’ to play no hypo- crite to Larry. Seems a whole let: like Larry is standin’ at my elbow, urgin’ me to stay.” And so, convinced that he had settled the matter with Larry, he was satisfied... For an hour or so he leunged at the door of And toward noon he went again to the eating-house, where he partook sparingly of food, enduring the hos- tile glances of the fat proprietor with a Steady unconcern which wrought malig- nance upon the countenance of that indi- ' vidual. Part of the afternoon Shorty passed in a saloon, watching a few of Loma’s repre- sentative citizens playing cards. Just be- fore dusk he again went to. the eating- house, and a little later he was in the liv- ery-stable, throwing saddle and bridle on Red King. And when twilight began to steal over the world he rode Red King out of town, westward, toward the Circle Star. None of Loma’s citizens seemed to be in- terested in his movements; at least, he saw no one watching him. It was but a step from the edge of town to the vast, dim plains, and in a few minutes he was riding in a virgin world that seemed deserted ex- cept for his own presence. And now that he had definitely deter- mined to return to the Circle Star, he was afflicted with a strange exhilaration, not unmixed with a sensation of grave concern. Was he doing right in going back to her? Would she be glad to see him? (GO) MicbH@ae (COL