Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

A472 broken legs could keep him away from Dusty Creek a week from Saturday night. Four of the quintet were very gay and loquacious as they loped back toward the ranch. © They talked of the dance and the new batch of puzzles Miss Barrymore had dug up for them, most of which were ex- tremely difficult, according to Doc Cushing. "Yuh hombres make me plum’ weary!” growled the foreman. ‘‘ Miss Bonita asked me tuhnight if I liked them damn_ puzzles and I told her no, I was a growed-up man.” “Seems like I heard her mention that,” nodded Pete Brown, with malice, “‘ and she reckoned it funny that a growed man never had learned to read or write.” * Naturally, too,” chimed in Doc, “‘ Miss Barrymore is more interested in men who can meet her on the same intellectual level.” “Yeh?” snapped Link. “ Well, it was me Miss Bonita first give out the plans of the big dance tuh. Giggle that off, yuh wise = jaspers!”’ : During the ten days that intervened be- _ fore the ‘‘ ball” in the Masonic Hall the Kickin’ K hands were extremely busy. Fences had to be fixed, beeves shipped, ‘and a lot of strays rounded up. There wasn’t much time for crossword puzzles or anything else outside the lines of duty. On the Saturday afternoon preceding the big dance, Link Upton came riding in from an inspection trip to find old Ben Kennard awaiting him at the ranchhouse. — ** We've lost a wrangler, Link,” declared the owner. ‘‘ That feller Sinclair. Sud- denly come in at noon tuhday, drew his wages, and beat it off in his tin contrap- shun.” _ “T)id he say why he was quittin’?” asked the somewhat amazed foreman. i “ Naw, not much. Only that this outfit was gettin’ on his nerves.” Huh! I think mebbe I understand, Ben.” Link grinned. It was probably as he fad thought right along. The Californian was a woman-hater. His surly scowls and silent grimaces when- ever the coming dance or the charms of Bonita Barrymore had been discussed had» not been missed by the foreman the last few days. Fed up, doubtless a nomad, anyway, Sinclair had just pulled stakes iS —* > 2 Peel on ste ~~ _ - _— fg 5 x ~ > te aS ee ek PO eee eee Qe Se. ee — ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Reckon we can spare him, though, Link, can’t we?” remarked Kennard. “Yeh. They’s plenty uv hands as good as him.” Under the pale light of a crescent moon the quintet from the Kickin’ K journeyed into Dusty Creek that night. Each man was accoutered in his finest garb, shaved © and slicked up to his individual conception of perfection. Never had Link Upton dressed more meticulously. A dazzling new silk shirt and a brand-new beaver atop his oiled-back hair were outstanding features of his raiment. At that, he had but a slight edge over the four wranglers, who also had made investments. Masonic Hall was already fairly erowaed when the five horsemen arrived. Lively music was being played by the four-piece orchestra consisting of piano, violin, saxo- phone, and drums. From all indications the dance was destined to be a success. But before many minutes passed Link Upton noted something. Bonita Barry- more, with every reason to be pleased by the turnout and music, still did not seem her usual self. Her smile wasn’t quite so spontaneous. To the foreman, there ap- peared a hint of trouble in her dark eyes. Nor was he the only one to perceive all was not well. Doc Cushing, the first of the Kickin’ K group to’get a dance with the ~ pretty teacher, came grumbling back to Stubby Larkin and Speck Hasty. ““T started to tell her all about that trick puzzle with the hard verticals, and she paid hardly a bit of attention!” was the plaint Link overheard. Almost three-quarters of an hour passed before the foreman managed to get a waltz with Bonita. The girl did not seem in a talkative mood. “Pretty good crowd tuhnight,”’ finally observed. ‘‘ I sorta reckon—”’ A gasp from his companion made him pause. Simultaneously, Pete Brown and a heavyweight partner bumped him, and he lost thought of everything save straighten- ing out his feet. Swinging back into step at last, he glanced across the hall—and caught sight of an unexpected face. Glowering sullenly < Link EComicboo oi E