Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

THE WAY OF Sitting on White Star, Cameron decided the building would have to be removed or destroyed. He didn’t want it to remain where it was. He felt it offended his sense of the esthetic. He had plans for the grouping of the structures he meant to erect on the land, and he didn’t want his plans spoiled by the ‘“ Cattlemen’s Bar.” He might have ridden on, to consider the matter at leisure, but at that instant a man appeared in the doorway of the saloon, seemed to squint at him, laughed harshly and spoke to some one inside. Three other men appeared behind the first, crowding the open doorway. One wore a dirty white apron; the others, apparently, were cow- punchers or homesteaders. All were grinning. Camefon was close enough to them to see their faces. He felt they were discussing him. Acting upon a sudden impulse he wheeled White Star and rode to the edge of the veranda. The voices of the men died away as he swung off White Star, trailed the reins over the animal’s head and stepped upon the “As Cameron halted after taking veranda. several steps toward the men he was con- scious of an atmosphere of hostility that suddenly seemed to envelop him. None of the men spoke. They stood, watching him, their faces expressionless. One of the men was a cowboy, for he was arrayed in chaps, boots, and the other re- galia of his trade. Cameron had seen no horse in the vicinity, but there was a small stable at the rear of the building. He thought.the cowboy’s horse might be in ~ there. Two of the remaining men wore overalls and woolen shirts. Aiter a galnce at their boots, Cameron decided they were home- steaders. Ransome. Cameron wasn’t interested in them, but he did not fail to observe that they watched him with intent curiosity. The man who wore the white apron pushed his way out of the doorway. As the man turned sidewise to pass between the two who were partly blocking his progress, _ Cameron caught a glimpse of the butt of a heavy revolver in a holster at the man ’s hip. The man was tall and massive. = THE BUFFALO. They might be workingmen from— The - 527 white apron bulged at the front, betraying an undeniable stomach; but his chest was ‘deep, his shoulders wide and heayy, and his great arms were long and powerful. He was. shaved smoothly, so that Cameron could detect the lines of character in his face, His chin had a belligerent thrust he had small ears which seemed to flatten against his head; his mouth was big, the lips thin and bloodless; the upper lip was protrud- ing and prehensile. Blue eyes, small and agate hard, were probing Cameron’s gaze. The man emerged from the ‘doorway, folded his arms over his chest and spoke shortly: “You lookin’ for somebody, stranger?” looking for the owner of this cc l’m saloon.” “T’m him,” said the big man. = Wir. Kelly?” _ “ Correct. What can I do for you?” “My name is Cameron, Mr. Kelly. I’m the new owner of this property.” was the mere hint of a wayward smile on his lips as he added: “JT was passing, saw your alae and thought my tenant.” _ “ We've heard of you,” said Kelly. “You're the guy which blowed in here the other day an’ slugged Gideon Strong.” “1 also stopped for the purpose of talk- ing. business with you, Mr. Kelly,” added Cameron, ignoring the other’s reference to Strong, but feeling the hostility of his. manner. vacate.” “Pye come to give you notice to Kelly’s face flushed.. He unfolded his arms and stuck his hands into the pockets. of his trousers, lifting the edge of the apron to do so, thereby exposing to Cameron’s view the butt of the heavy revolver at his - hip. Cameron saw the other men look quickly at Kelly, They appeared to detect humor in the situation, for they smiled. One of the men in overalls a a8 lowly, in- solently. “You're givin’ me noti ly. “ How much notice? “ Three days.” _ e ‘Cameron paid no attention ta the glances = There I’d stop and get acquatmited with * if En One, €O micboo ‘SCO