Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

and hard to replace. _ FLIGHT TO looked down at me, an’ his eyes, they was too quiet an’ innocent like not ter be harborin’ guile. I seed that right away.” “ All right. Go on.” “He said kinderly softlike: ‘ Cas, does ye still aim ter run fer ther Legislature nex’ election?’ an’ I says, ‘I reckon so, Wade,’ an’ he says, ‘ Well, I’ve done been studyin’ erbout hit, Cas, an’ I’ve done concluded ye’d better put by thet notion fer good an’ ane” Lesher’s voice was velvet soft. “ What answer did ye give him, son?” “T asked him fer why should I put hit by, an’ he said, still speakin’ soft, ‘I went down thar ter Frankfort-town once, an’ hit was a right grievous mistake. I’ve done concluded thet fer you ter go now would be a still bigger mistake.’ Them was his words.” “What did he mean by ’em, son? What hed ye done ter bring on a hardness betwixt ye?” The younger man flushed painfully. “Ter give ye ther full straight of hit, Lesher, I’d done kinderly made a fool of myself with thet hussy thet he’s harborin’. She kinderly led me on an’ I aimed ter keep hit quiet.” “ Afore God A’mighty,” stormed the Skidmore leader in a transport of explosive rage. “ Air ye sich a plain damn fool es thet? Don’t ye know she’s Wade’s wench? Don’t ye know hit means warfare ter monkey with another man’s woman? Does ye reckon he fotched her cl’ar from Ashe- ville-town an’ stud at bay betwixt her an’ his whole damn pack only ter let ye make free with her? All right! Ye’ve done made yore own bed an’ now I reckon ye’ve got ter lay in hit. Ef ther Murrells won’t stomach ye fer ther Legislater, thar hain’t no sense in my seekin’ ter aid ye.” The angered intriguer spat contemptu- ously and shrugged his heavy shoulders. Yet he was both infuriated and bitterly. disappointed. Here was a man who could help him as no other could, because while ostensibly a Murrell in good clan standing, he was actually Lesher’s secret agent. Traitors fo the fealty of the clan were few Yet as a Murrell out- cast Harley could be of no use to him. Not Ne = => SS. 225 THE HILLS. only the ambitions of the traitor, but the success of his own schemes had suffered a crushing blow in this abrupt development. “But, Lesher,” urged Cas desperately, “ther wench give me ter think thet she was kinderly sick of Wade. She give me ter think that she was hurtin’ fer companion- ship with somebody thet wasn’t a fool.” Skidmore snorted. ‘“ An’ even atter thet, ye ‘lowed ye hed a chanst,” he made scath- ing comment. Harley pleaded. Into the fabric of his being had been woven a pattern of am- bition. To have it ripped ruthlessly out would be worse than death. To save it whole he was ready to pay the usury of desperation. Lesher let him unbosom him- self, giving no intimation of sympathy, and when the aggrieved fool was talked out the Skidmore leader had his response ready, but it was a response which required preamble. “Thar hain’t no manner of use in yore comin’ ter me unless ye kin fotch Murrell strength along with ye,” he said grimly. “Ef hit’s jest Skidmore strength alone thet’s ter be figgered on, hit’d pay me better ter run a Skidmore fer ther Legislater out an’ out. Hit looked like ye kinderly stud in second place over yon, next ter Wade. “‘T "lowed thet ef ye was ter stand in fust place ’stid of second, me an’ you could kinderly pull in double harness—but ye’ve got ter git inter thet fust place fer yoreself. I kain’t man-power a disable fool up ter leadership amongst my enemies. Now ye’ve done up an’ asked fer destruction an’ pears like ye’re goin’ ter git hit—all over a fotched-on strumpet.” . “Ef Wade would jest. sicken an’ die,” moaned Cas Harley bitterly, “T reckon, even now, I would stand in fust <2 over. thar.” Lesher gave him a quick con glance. “All right, then,” he dé with diabolic directness, : Why don’ see ter hit thet he does sicken an’ di Harley’s eyes widened. “ What do mean, Lesher? Am I ther Almighty ter call down mortal ailments onam “Oh, hell!” came the disgus “T’m a palaverin’ with a man thet haint? got ther gumption ter hit a sopeeaiael when hit hisses at him. —_ pecs a ~e * ~~ — -_ se SE , ey See = <= ~ — —~ eee Se oe Of ENS > a aa _ —— “ aS ww > i =. — a 9 on > ym * L