Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE WAY OF Watching the man closely, although not openly staring at him, Cameron could find nothing in his manner to support his pre- vious conviction that Ballantine was amused over his exploit. Ballantine’s rugged face was set in se- rious lines, He was as impressive now as he had been when he had stood in the court room dictating to Judge Gray. There wasn’t a hint of exultation in the fine, keen eyes that seemed to Cameron to be staring into unfathomed distances with a serenity which could mean nothing but a conscious-— ness of the man’s ability to take care of himself in any crisis. Externally, Ballan-— tine was as rugged and grim as the en- compassing country; if there was any humor in him, it was not visible. While Cameron stood in the doorway Gideon Strong stepped upon the veranda. Strong must have been walking down the sidewalk while Cameron had been watching Ballantine, for he had mounted the veranda from that direction. He was halfway across the-veranda before he saw Cameron and was evidently intent upon joining the group that surrounded Ballantine. - But when he saw Cameron he halted, turned, and bowed derisively. “Good morning,” he said blandly. “You're stirring early. Been over to the courthouse?” Cameron did not acknowledge the greet- ing. He stared past Strong, seemingly over his shoulder; then apparently straight into Strong’s eyes without Seeing him. Strong laughed. “You have,” he said. Strong seemed hugely amused. His fat face was red, his eyes were agleam with malice. That he could smile after what had happened the night before indicated an aggressiveness that made him worthy of- consideration. Yet Cameron loathed him. The man was grossly vulgar, sensuous, coarse. He was not more than thirty-five, but there was none of the clearness of youth in his eyes; they had an old, sophisticated expres- sion, as if they had seen ali that was.to be seen, as though they had stripped the masks from all the illusions of youth to search for the worldliness underneath. — THE BUFFALO. = 921. - Strong was a creature of appetite, of vio- — lent passion. him. The things he thought were lying There was no repression in. naked in his eyes, and the thoughts were — not good. For an instant longer he stood, watching Cameron with gleaming, quickening eyes; - then he laughed lowly, deep in his threat, turned and elbowed his way to Ballantine. Cameron-did not follow his movements. But he stiffened slightly when he glanced casually toward the western end of the _ veranda to see Strong and Ballantine ap- ‘proaching. Strong had caught hold of Bal- -Jantine’s right arm and was urging him to- ward the doorway in which Cameron stood. In another instant Strong and Ballantine Ballantine was: _ were confronting Cameron. gazing steadily and curiously into. Camer- on’s eyes; Strone’s face was wrens with. repressed mirth. ‘« Sunset,” said Strong, “I told you P'd SO you “something that would interest that 1) ast stretch of land next fo yours! Deal was- closed last night, cashed his check this morning. scaring him any! Not any! You ain’t He bought e a look at the man who bought — Yes, sir! 1 se = the land, knowing what you’ve said about not wanting it settled or worked! Sunset, meet James J. Cameron, your new neigh- bor!” Strong did not meet Cameron's eyes as he finished, because Cameron was not look- ing at nin Cameron was watching Ballan- tine. Ballantine had stiffened. His lips had straightened; strange little flecks of fire - danced in his eyes. Strong turned chuckling, to watch the effect of his action upon the men who had turned to follow his movements. Ballantine turned perfectly motionless. His eyes, unblinking, steady, were probing Cameron’s, as if to read his thoughts. Strong had ceased to chuckle; he made no sound, Silence, portentous of the immi- nence of the strange and the unusual, had descended upon the veranda. ‘The stillness was broken by Ballantine’s voice, deep, slow, deliberate: “ You're James J. Eeeeae- “That is my name, sir.’ “Ever hear of ‘ Smoke” Cameron?” cComicboo S (6)