Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 12, 1927 — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

IN THE SADDLE OF BRONCO KING. “ Delighted, I’m sure,” the soft voice of young Thomas was intoning perfunctorily. “T—I congratulate you,” Dan heard himself saying as from a great distance. Then his gaze swung to the girl again. For a long moment their eyes caught and held. The tint of her face deepened to a rosy red that matched the flush on Dan’s bronzed countenance. She broke away first, withia little flutter of pent-up breath. ‘““We’re going in to see father. Isn’t it a lovely morning for riding? Come, Ken- dall.” Dan watched her, hypnotized, until she disappeared in the bank. “TI wonder—if I’d ever let her know— hell! Too late now,” he murmured. “ I’d no business to with things goin’ on the rocks like this.” ' The next moment he was on Pinto’s back galloping madly out of town toward the open range, as if to escape from something that was gnawing at his heart. Dan didn’t go near his ranch that day. Till late afternoon he alternately raced Pinto over the hills and sat in a brown study in the motionless saddle, his eyes fixed on the rolling country. For over an hour during the mid after- noon, he lay on his face at the top of a cliff overlooking the turbulent Wind River at the point where it took a sharp turn just back of the low divide, separating it from the valley in which King City lay.. This was one of Dan King’s favorite haunts. Many a dreamy hour he had spent there in the last few years. This time his communion with the river seemed to hearten him again. It was to- ward five o’clock when he suddeniy leaped to his feet and whistled to Pinto, who was grazing near by. “Pinto, ol’ dear, they haven’t. got us licked yet,” he remarked aloud as he mount- ed the pony and there was new purpose in the steady gallop that brought him back to the ranch house by sunset. Jed Perkins, the foreman, hailed him as he came in. = ees was an old Spied named Thomas on,” he Fale 145 acted like they owned the ranch. Cook ‘says they even went through the house; told him he’d seen you and it was all right.” “The damned old bruiser!” Dan snort- ed instantly in a hot rage. ‘“‘ We'll see whether he owns the ranch or not!” Dan ate little supper that night. Rage had destroyed his appetite. In his room, he wrote a long letter and then, routing out a fresh pony, rode down to the city to mail it. On the steps of the post office, he bumped into C. K. Thomas. | ‘* Just the man I want to see!” exclaimed the Easterner. “Look here, young man, let’s go somewhere where we can sit down quietly. I want to talk turkey to you.” “Well, I'll tell you, Mr. Thomas,” Dan drawled coolly, though he was boiling with- in, “ turkey is a kind of bird language I’m not up on a whole lot. But turkey bein’ an outdoor bird, I reckon here’s as good a place to talk it as any.” “Humph! Suit yourself. Here’s what [ll do for you, I’ve had some outside ap- praisers over your place to-day. They set the same price on it that Mr. Mosier seems to think is right. Ill buy you out, lock, stock, and barrel, for fifty thousand dollars. Take it or leave it.” “ Tt’s left right where it starts,” Dan an- swered promptly, and turned away. ‘Thomas put a detaining hand on his arm. “Hold on a minute. Just. for the sake of curiosity, what would you take for it?” “* Just what I said I’d take the other day —nothing.” “Now look here. I want to be liberal. I don’t have to haggle over anything I want. Money’s no object. My boy’s go- ing to stay in this country and I'll be here a lot myself. I don’t want anybody to say I haven’t done the handsome thing by the last of the Kings. I’ll make it sixty thou- sand dollars.” But Dan was on his way. “Not interested!” he snapped over his shoulder. II. Durinc the following wed C.K. Thom- as a nemy. died. of apo ~comicbooks.com