Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 4, 1926 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

344 dumb, Monk. Can you imagine any better way to take care of the kickers than to have ’em organize under Squint Vari? As soon as Squint finds out who they are we can do as we please with ’em; at least they can’t cause us any trouble, because Squint will report in every night.” “Pig, you’re a genius,” declared Monk Day reluctantly. Grabow waved a flabby hand with lord- ly modesty. ‘It was Squint’s idea,” he said, “‘ and a damn keen one.” He poured out a stiff drink. ‘“‘ And what else is new?” “Silent Jerry is back.” Pig Grabow jerked up involuntarily. He frowned. ‘‘ When did he pull in?” he de- manded. “ This afternoon. Went on right through the town, and pitched camp up on Devil’s Seat, lookin’ right down on us.” ‘““ As speechless as ever?” “ Worse. No one’s got a word out of him. And bigger and browner, too, a regu- lar giant. He came into the bar to-night to look around. Say, he had to duck his head to get in the door. “T was tryin’ to move the bar back so’s to have more room in front. A half dozen fellows were tuggin’ at one end of it. Up walks Silent Jerry, shoos the men away, and takes aholt of the bar with those big hands. Moved it like it was a—a little bench, too.” Admiration sounded in Monk Day’s husky voice. ‘I thanked him, and offers him a drink. He’s always seemed to like me since I cracked his head that time, and then bandaged it for him. “ But he wouldn’t drink with me. No, sir. He just smiles, and shakes his shagg head. For about an hour he sets in the corner, watchin’ the crowd, then he ambles out.” Pig Grabow grunted. “ Hmph! Wish he hadn’t come. If there’s one man all these prospectors would follow, even against me, it’s Silent Jerry. Well, he’s a reasonable fellow, and as long as he keeps that way we'll get along.” ‘“Squint Vari has sworn to get him if he starts anythin’,’ Monk Day announced. “The two of ‘em met to-night and glared at each other. Squint kept quiet at the ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. time, but after Silent Jerry left Squint talked big. It seems that Jerry killed one of Squint’s nephews in a fight over near Rhyolite years ago.” “Yep, I know it. And Squint’s always sworn to get even. Jerry was mixed up with that Budhouser rat, too. Remember? The one who killed Blackie Vari? Well, all I can say is that Silent Jerry better watch out on dark nights. Who else came to-day ?”’ “A tenderfoot named Winningham breezed in, a blow-hard. Had his daugh- ter with him, a blond darb.” “Yes, I saw ’em. Fact is, put myself out for ’°em. Threw those five Portuguese out of the big back rooms on the third floor next to yours, the ones over the mountainside, and gave ’em to the fat duffer and his girl. “Squint Vari had a run-in with ’em on the desert day before yesterday, and told me about the girl. She’s a peach. I aim to treat her right. Yes, sir, treat her right. For awhile, anyway. Who else?” ‘ Borderline’ Bud, swearin’ to get a claim, and keep it in spite of you and the devil this time.” “That old codger back again. He’ll fall off the road some dark night. Any one else?” ‘The usual crew of prospectors we were expectin’ along—Burt Karoli, Whitey Otis, Thin Thumble, Ed Treadup, and a dozen more. ‘A couple of girls, too, regular hatchet- faces. I turned ’em over to Kettle Kate. Then the usual bunch of loud-talkin’, sure- to-get-rich farmhands and clerks. “ Oh, yes, among the Mexican delegation was an old bird named Mateo Chico. The fool brought his daughter, too, and she looks like a regular fire eater.” ‘A prospect for Kettle Kate to call on, eh?” suggested Pig Grabow. He leered, and wiped his mouth with the hairy blan- ket of his hand’s back. “ Any grumbling to-day?” “A kid named Carruthers got cleaned at faro, and tried to kill himself. Didn’t try very serious, though. We chucked him down the cellar, where he’s gettin’ over it. Then there was some talk about that kite- EOPMICGLOO© (C <S) (F@