Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 12, 1927 — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

IN THE SADDLE OF man would fill his saddle. But he don’t somehow seem to measure up.” ‘But what’s the price of the property? That’s what I want to know,” demanded Thomas impatiently. ‘“T’ve been telling you all of this, Mr. Thomas,” Seth continued unperturbed, “ be- cause I want you to understand it takes a real man to ride in the saddle of Bronco King. Maybe your boy can. I hope so, !i he’s going to marry my little girl. But now, I don’t usually talk so much. The points is, I want to see Bronco King’s son get a square deal if you aim to buy him out. ‘“T shall advise young King to take not a cent less than fifty thousand dollars for his property. If you don’t want to go that high there ain’t any use in talkin’ about buyin’. ‘“Money’s no object when I get what I want,’ Thomas asserted pompously. “ Of course, I don’t propose to be swindled. I shall get an impartial appraisal before I make a definite offer. ll limit my talk with young King to-day to feeling him out on what he wants for the property.” “You'll find young Dan kinda obsti- nate,” the banker warned him. ‘ He takes after his dad in that.” ‘“T’m not worried on that score. I un- derstand he’s in a rather tignt place,” Thomas asserted. ‘I tell you, Mr. Mosier, money talks. Every man has his price. Of course, this boy has his. Now, what about it? Better see if young King has come in yet. I’m in rather of a hurry to get this off my mind.” “ T’ll see,” the banker acquiesced ami- ably, pressing the newly installed call-but- ton under the edge of his desk. A young woman appeared. “See if Mr. Daniel King is out there,” he directed. “If he is, show him in.” A moment later the bank’s messenger and general factotem, Joe Hall, thrust his bullet-head out of the front door and hailed Dan. ‘Hey, Dan. The boss wants to see you.” Dan King turned away from Pete with a resigned shrug, slowly entered the bank and went on into the president’s office. On the threshold he was stopped short by the sight of the objectionable Easterner e a = 5 = = ae ~— —— 2 2 SF ot oe =A a <. as —_— se wl a Bae - Pe > oe ee ee ee ne en ae as ET oe ~< no a —— - 2 ~ \oneng Se =, alae ine LF x ~~ ~ y BRONCO KING. 143 who had so affronted him a few minutes before. ‘““ Excuse me,” he said, backing out. “It’s all right, Dan,’ Mosier assured him. ‘Come in. I want you to meet Mr. C. K. Thomas from New York.” Thomas evidently recognized the young man who had so pointedly ignored his strictures on the ethics of pony-hitching, for his mottled face flushed a deeper purple. But he controlled himself and extended a hand which Dan King found surprisingly firm under the almost womanish texture of its well-kept surface. ‘How do you do, sir,’ Thomas greeted him and spared Dan the necessity of a re- turn greeting by plunging on into the ob- ject of his visit. “Mr. King,” he went on smoothly, “ I’m thinking of taking some ranch land some- where in the State. I’ve looked over sev- eral pieces of property, among them yours. I asked Mr. Mosier to get you to meet me here so I could get a line on what kind of a price you’d take for your place, in case I should definitely consider buying it.” Dan King was frankly surprised. Ever since getting Mosier’s telephoned request to call at the bank, he had been speculating over every possible trouble that might be- fall his estate. There was a mortgage subject to fore- closure at any interest date. He thought the banker might want to warn him that he would foreclose in the fall or that sev- eral long overdue notes must be met. Any of these ultimata would mean losing his birthplace unless he could dissuade Mosier. He studied the banker’s inscrutable face now, suspecting that this tentative offer to buy might cloak Mosier’s determination to foreclose. But Dan King did not hesitate: ‘I’m shore obliged to you for liking my property,” he said, “ but it ain’t for sale.’ “Not for sale! Oh, come now!” rumbled the big man. ‘“ Anything’s for sale if the price is right. I often. say I’ll sell any- thing I’ve got but my wife.” ‘““Mr. Thomas,” Dan _ replied levelly, “there’s some people that wouldn’t any more think of selling their homes than they would of selling their wives. Not that T've — St . ¢ . se - a ac a = a ns en % 2 v : ™ a ae a. °