Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 4, 1926 — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

BM By KENNETH PERKINS Author of ‘‘ Horsemen Against the Moon,’’ ‘‘ The Starlit Trail,’’ ete. CHAPTER XXIV (Continued). A ROPE FOR A COLLAR. IG LARABEE, speechless at first, looked at the gaunt imperious figure. Neither he, nor any one else staring at the old man, could make out what had come over him. His face was at once hag- gard and flushed; stern, and triumphant. As he walked, he limped,:for his ride had been a hard one; he had cared nothing for mesquite thorn or cactus. His clothes were torn, his skin bleeding, and although he limped he seemed to walk with the air of a conqueror. A victorious soul was in possession of a broken body. ‘““ What-all’s happened, Chief?” Larabee managed to stammer. “‘ Why did you come back; you kin see we ain’t through with this job vet—the job you wanted us to perform?” “Praise God you didn’t blunder through it too soon!”’ the Chief said. “These breeds kin be satisfied, and have blood for blood. But Harry’ain’t goin’ to hang. He goes free.” He concluded in a quiet tone—the final- ity of which no man could have doubted. “If you-all are sot on a lynchin’ you kin have same. I’m offerin’ up myself to you in his place. I’m offerin’ myself to you, Larabee, who’s now the sheriff. Put the rope around my neck—and leave my son go.” CHAPTER XXvV. BAFFLED LYNCHERS, HE little lynch gang stood there in the early dawn of the gulch as silent and immovable as the gray shadows of cactus and tree stumps about them. A word from their real Chief, the voice in Thie story began in the Argosy-Allstory Weekly for October 30. 443 Gomichboo (E@)